A dramatic police chase ended in the ocean Saturday night after a woman, with two dogs in the back seat, drove her car directly into the waves just south of Venice Pier.
At around 11:21 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop a silver BMW X3 for speeding on the 10 Freeway near Temple City Boulevard. The driver, whom authorities did not identify, took off and continued west toward the coast. CHP Officer Erik Larsen said he was driving 78 mph when officers tried to pull her over, and even faster during the chase.
After crashing the car into the waves and getting stuck in the lime, the driver got out and began swimming further from shore. More than a dozen spectators gaped from the beach and others watched from the pier as the strange situation continued to unfold.
As Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies attempted to rescue the driver, who could be seen bobbing in the waves, county lifeguards discovered two small dogs in the back seat.
Video from the scene shows a lifeguard removing one of the dogs from the car and cradling the animal as it heads back to shore.
The driver was eventually placed on a police boat and taken into custody, according to CHP records. The two Boston terriers were placed in the care of animal control, Larsen said. He didn't know his condition.
Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.
