A driver sped a car onto the pedestrian walkway of the Venice Pier late Sunday night, causing panic among beachgoers and initiating a police pursuit that concluded with an arrest.
The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when the vehicle entered the pier, a space designated for foot traffic only. Harrowing video footage captured the moment onlookers scrambled to avoid the car as it accelerated down the walkway with its headlights reportedly turned off. "It was extremely traumatizing for me," said Daniel Lopez, who was on the pier with his son. "Everybody was trying to yell… My biggest fear was she was flying through that walkway."
Witnesses reported hearing shouts of "Watch out, watch out" as the car, whose passenger side window was covered in tape, raced down the pier. Lopez stated that he and his son had to dive out of the vehicle's path multiple times.
Authorities reported that the suspect struck a cyclist and fled the scene before the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrived. This led to a pursuit through city streets. During the chase, the driver reportedly rammed her car into multiple LAPD vehicles before the standoff ended near Via Marina and Pacific Avenue.
The LAPD arrested the woman driver at the scene. Two officers sustained injuries during the pursuit: one during a precision immobilization technique maneuver and another while breaking the driver's window to make the arrest. The driver is expected to face charges including assault with a deadly weapon and driving under the influence.