A chilling scene Friday night following a pursuit of a kidnapping suspect that ended in a violent crash along PCH with three children on board.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department received a call of a kidnapping around 6:40 p.m. in the area of Arizona and Olympic Boulevard in East Los Angeles.
The suspected car thief got inside the vehicle that was left running with three kids inside, according to LASD Lieutenant Joseph Fortelny. One of the children was as young as 2 years old.
The father of the children witnessed the theft and attempted to intervene by jumping on the vehicle, but fell off and was struck.
LASD deputies located the vehicle and initiated the pursuit in the East LA area. CHP took over the pursuit as it made its way into Santa Monica.
Several patrol vehicles were behind the pursuit suspect as they continued on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Officers were instructed not to attempt a PIT maneuver out of precaution for the passengers.
The pursuit came to an end after the driver crashed into another vehicle near Kanan Dume Road in Malibu. The suspect got out of the vehicle and fled to a field near Portshead Road.
First responders arrived on the scene to provide medical care to the children and other drivers involved in the crash.
All three children were transported to a nearby hospital. Details on the condition of the children were not immediately available.
The driver was arrested just a few yards out from the crash site, according to the CHP.