Suspected car thief flees into drainage canal

Authorities pursued a driver in a stolen pickup truck that crashed into a drainage canal in Los Angeles County Friday night.

The driver was seen weaving dangerously through freeway lanes and surface streets while driving the wrong way amid heavy traffic at times.

The pursuit began in the Ontario area as the suspect traveled on the 60 Freeway before transitioning to the 605 Freeway and exiting in Whittier. He eventually continued driving erratically in the Norwalk area, narrowly missing a bicyclist and nearby vehicles.

At one point, the suspect entered the 105 Freeway before suddenly driving off-road onto a rocky dirt embankment that led to a wash underneath the freeway overpass.

The driver crashed into a chainlink fence, rendering the truck immobile.

The suspect ditched the truck and walked towards a nearby homeless encampment.

Officers and K-9 units arrived and eventually located the suspect, who was found soaking wet from the storm channel area. 

Authorities said it appeared the man changed out of his clothing and put on new clothes that he found in the homeless encampment. His previous outfit was located inside the truck.

Footage of the pursuit can be seen in the video player above.