March 21--What started as a search for three people who jumped out of a car and robbed a pedestrian ended hours later in East Hollywood with a multi-car crash that locked down a neighborhood while police searched for the suspects, officials said.
The chain of events began about 11:30 p.m. Sunday when the group committed the street-side robbery, then jumped into a car and sped off, according to KTLA-TV.
About an hour later, an off-duty police officer spotted a vehicle matching that description in the same area and alerted police, who closed in and tried to pull it over, KTLA reported.
But instead of pulling over, the driver fled, Los Angeles police Officer Norma Eisenman said.
The car crashed into four other vehicles at Normandie and Melrose avenues and the driver jumped out and ran, Eisenman said.
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One passenger was trapped inside the car and had to be freed with the Jaws of Life before being taken to the hospital, KTLA reported. Another passenger and two other people involved in the crash were also injured, KTLA reported.
About 5 a.m, the driver was also caught, KTLA reported.
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