Chase suspect in custody following PIT maneuver, crash in Palmdale

PALMDALE, Calif. -- A reckless driver was taken into custody after leading police and CHP officers on a dangerous high-speed chase that ended following a PIT maneuver and crash in Palmdale Monday.

Sean Christopher Druschel, 33, of Palmdale, was arrested and booked on felony evasion charges.

Police began pursuing Druschel for alleged reckless driving near Saticoy Street and Topanga Canyon in Northridge at about 5:07 p.m.

He refused to stop and led officers on a chase further through the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita area and Antelope Valley.

At times, Druschel, who was traveling in a Ford F-150 with black paper plates, reached speeds close to 135 mph, weaving in and out of the center divider and carpool lanes on various freeways.

Druschel got off the 118 Freeway in the Porter Ranch area and sped on surface streets before getting on the northbound 5 Freeway toward Granada Hills.

The pickup truck was involved in two minor crashes during the course of the chase -- one at Saticoy Street and De Soto Avenue in Canoga Park and another at Shoshone Avenue and Rinaldi Street in Granada Hills.

The California Highway patrol took over the chase from the Los Angeles Police Department after the truck began heading north on the 14 Freeway in the Santa Clarita area.

VIDEO: Chase suspect crashes into CHP SUV, passenger flees

The driver then got off the 14 Freeway on Avenue N in the Palmdale area. The truck then spun out while making a left turn at a high rate of speed and crashed into the back of a CHP Ford Explorer near 50th Street West and Avenue N. The officer was not injured.

Druschel then drove into a residential area where a female passenger jumped out of the vehicle and bailed on foot. She was later detained near Cinnabar Avenue, east of 50th Street West.

The woman cooperated with investigators and was not arrested. Palmdale deputies interviewed her near her home, which is where she had run off to when she jumped from the passenger side of the truck.

A CHP officer performed a PIT maneuver near 25th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard in Palmdale. The truck spun and crashed into a vehicle. The passenger and driver of the vehicle hit were able to run to safety.

Druschel exited the pickup truck following a 30-minute standoff and was taken into custody around 7 p.m. A K9 then cleared the vehicle.

One person was transported from the area of the pursuit termination and taken to Antelope Valley Medical Center, according to L.A. County fire officials.

CORRECTION: LAPD initially reported that the suspect struck a pedestrian in Northridge, but has since said no pedestrians were hit.

PHOTOS: Reckless driver leads police, CHP on wild hours-long chase