Driver Speeds Down Crowded Venice Pier In Police Chase

VENICE, CA — A woman was arrested after driving to the end of the Venice Pier, speeding toward pedestrians and police officers and leading authorities on a short pursuit Sunday night, police said.

Officers responded at about 9:45 p.m. to a report of a vehicle striking a bicyclist near the pier on the 3100 block of Ocean Front Walk, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The driver had traveled onto the pier before turning around and accelerating toward officers and people gathered there, police said. Pedestrians were seen scrambling out of the vehicle’s path in videos posted online.

The woman struck a bicyclist, though the person’s condition was not immediately available.

Daniel Lopez, who was fishing with his son, told NBC Los Angeles that they had to move out of the vehicle’s way twice.

“It was extremely traumatizing for me,” Lopez told the station. “Everybody was trying to yell, if you hear on the video, was trying to get everybody off the pier.”

The driver continued into Marina del Rey, where officers stopped the vehicle near Via Marina and Pacific Avenue after using a pursuit intervention maneuver, police said.

Officers then removed the woman from the vehicle and took her into custody.

She was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. No officers were injured, according to the LAPD.

KTLA reported that a social media post claimed the driver appeared impaired, but police had not confirmed that allegation.

The woman’s name was not immediately released.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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