HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - A man suspected of stealing a car and leading police on a chase that ended in a fiery crash on the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway was in jail today.
The chase began at 7:08 p.m. Monday in the area of Third Street and Rampart Boulevard in the Westlake district and ended about 7:20 p.m. on the freeway near Melrose Avenue in East Hollywood, according to Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.
“They (LAPD Rampart Division officers) encountered a vehicle that was reported stolen and the suspect was also wanted for burglary out of Santa Monica,” LAPD Sgt. Werner Flores told NBC4.
The vehicle being chased collided with other vehicles and burst into flames, prompting a closure of all northbound lanes of the freeway.
A woman who claimed to be the suspect's sister said she wasn't aware why her brother was being chased.
“My mom called me and told me 'see the news,”' Jenny Guevera told NBC4. “That's my brother, you know.”
It was not immediately clear if anyone was seriously injured in the collision.
The freeway reopened about 9 p.m.