Wild chase ends with suspect nearly striking woman with stroller in Panorama City

PANORAMA CITY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A violent and brief chase in the San Fernando Valley ended in a crash that nearly struck a woman with a stroller in Panorama City Thursday morning.

Authorities were chasing a man, believed to have stolen the Toyota Prius, on the 118 Freeway and 5 Freeway at about 7:30 a.m. before the suspect got onto surface streets in Panorama City.

The suspect was driving erratically at high speeds, and he nearly plowed through people walking on sidewalks and crossing intersections.

The driver crashed into another car at a major intersection, but continued traveling onto a sidewalk. He then narrowly missed a woman with a stroller before he slammed into a row of parked cars at the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Willis Avenue.

Authorities quickly pounced on the suspect and used a Taser to take him into custody. His identity was not immediately released.

A woman standing on the sidewalk who was also nearly struck by the stolen vehicle was transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution.

Despite the damage and several close calls, area residents said they were glad the conclusion of the chase was not worse.