Pursuit of two Priuses ends with one driver fleeing into harbor
Two high-speed pursuits in Orange County involving two stolen Priuses ended Friday with both suspects in custody after one driver fled into the harbor at Sunset Beach, authorities said.
Huntington Beach police initially spotted a stolen Toyota Prius in Newport Beach and began pursuit.
A white Prius crashed near downtown Huntington Beach, with a female driver quickly detained by a bystander.
-
A gray Prius involved in a law enforcement pursuit is shown where it came to a stop after authorities deployed spike strips Friday morning, March 21, 2025. (KTLA) -
One of the suspects in a pursuit in Orange County is detained by law enforcement after attempting to flee by diving into the harbor on March 21, 2025. (Jim Murphey)
A second Prius, this one gray, continued fleeing, eventually crashing in Sunset Beach after police deployed a spike strip, KTLA’s Chip Yost reports. The male driver abandoned the vehicle and jumped into the harbor in an attempt to escape.
Lifeguards and an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy ultimately pulled the suspect from the water. Both suspects were taken into custody.
Witnesses near Pacific Coast Highway described to Yost a dramatic scene, with one describing a police Tesla chasing the suspect and quickly responding to the incident.
The investigation is ongoing.