An 18-year-old motorist police say was seen engaging in a street race on a Southern California freeway was arrested after failing to pull over and leading officers on a high-speed pursuit Monday night.
The officers saw the race on the 118 Freeway while conducting traffic enforcement near a known car meet-up location around 10:15 p.m., the Simi Valley Police Department stated in a news release.
The pursuit began when an officer tried to stop one of the racing vehicles near Rocky Peak Road, but the driver “accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour,” police said.
At one point during the chase, the suspect collided with an uninvolved vehicle in the area of Osborne Street and San Fernando Road in the city of Los Angeles, but continued driving.
The crash resulted in only minor damage to the other vehicle, with no injuries reported, police said.
The Los Angeles Police Department then assisted with aerial support before the pursuit finally ended when the suspect voluntarily surrendered near West Burbank Boulevard, just off the 5 Freeway.
The driver was later identified as 18-year-old Travis Sehler, a resident of Simi Valley.
Sehler was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony evading a peace officer, hit-and-run and engaging in a speed contest. His vehicle was also impounded for 30 days.
