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LAPD cruiser catches fire in pursuit crash that trapped 12-year-old child, woman

A short vehicle pursuit ended in a fiery collision that injured five people, including a critically hurt woman and a 12-year-old boy

LOS ANGELES — A short pursuit in South Los Angeles ended in a fiery collision, trapping a 12-year-old boy and a 30-year-old woman inside a vehicle struck during the pursuit, KTLA reports.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, first responders were dispatched around 8:21 p.m. on May 12, where they found three patients in need of rescue — two of them trapped inside a burning vehicle.

One of the vehicles involved was an LAPD cruiser, which caught fire following the collision. The officers inside were able to safely exit the cruiser, LAFD confirmed.

The pursuit, which LAPD officials told KTLA lasted only a short time, ended when the suspect’s vehicle collided with another car, triggering a chain-reaction crash. The suspects fled the scene and remain at large.

Emergency crews extricated the two trapped victims. The child was transported in unknown condition, while the woman was listed in critical condition. Authorities later confirmed a total of five individuals were transported to area hospitals. Information about the other three patients has not yet been released.

Aerial footage from KTLA showed the charred wreckage at the scene and emergency personnel loading at least one other patient into an ambulance.

Officers were pursuing an alleged DUI suspect, KCAL reports.

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Sarah Roebuck is the news editor for Police1, Corrections1, FireRescue1 and EMS1, leading daily news coverage. With nearly a decade of digital journalism experience, she has been recognized for her expertise in digital media, including being sourced in Broadcast News in the Digital Age.

A graduate of Central Michigan University with a broadcast and cinematic arts degree, Roebuck joined Lexipol in April 2023. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com or connect on LinkedIn.