Dramatic high-speed RV chase through the streets of LA sees a terrified dog LEAP from the stolen vehicle before the battered motor slams into a tree and the female driver is arrested
- A woman in a stolen RV led authorities on a wild chase in Los Angeles on Tuesday
- The suspect has been identified as Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, of Winnetka
- She smashed into at least six cars and a palm tree before coming to halt
- Three people, including the driver, were sent to the hospital
- The half-hour chase began around 7pm in Santa Clarita, just north of L.A.
- The RV was seen careening at speeds of up to 60mph from Santa Clarita into the San Fernando Valley, causing her frightened dog to leap out the front window
- It hit several cars and then a palm tree in a shopping mall parking lot that tore off the passenger-side door and wrecked the front end of the camper
- Eventually Rainbird lost control of the vehicle - both she and her dog tried to make a run for it but were quickly tackled by authorities
- Rainbird is being held on suspicion of several felony charges including hit and run and animal cruelty
- Investigators say that this may be a DUI case
A woman driving a stolen RV with two dogs in her lap led police on a wild 60mph chase through the streets of Santa Clarita, near Los Angeles in Southern California on Tuesday evening.
The DUI suspect has been identified as Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, of Winnetka, by the California Highway Patrol. Authorities say she stole the Giant RV in Downey, California.
She launched the bizarre chase around 7pm when authorities tried to pull the vehicle over.
She drove so recklessly through the streets, weaving in and out of traffic and plowing into at least six cars, that one of her two dogs leaped out of the broken front window and tumbled onto the road.
Rainbird was arrested at the end of the chase is being held on suspicion of several felony charges, including hit and run and animal cruelty. Investigators say that this may be a DUI case, according to Good Morning America.
A woman driving a stolen RV led police on a wild 60mph chase through the streets of Santa Clarita, near Los Angeles in Southern California on Tuesday evening
She recklessly drove the RV, smashing into at least six cars and a palm tree that ripped the passenger-side door off of the camper and dented in the hood of the vehicle
She drove so dangerously that her petrified dog crawled through the front window of the car and jumped out, tumbling on the road
The dog that jumped out pictured walking towards the sidewalk, away from the trailer
After her first dog jumped out, she clung on to her second dog (above) who tried to follow the other and jump out of the front window
Her hand could be seen holding onto her dog as it tried desperately to leap out
The stolen motor home suffered heavy damage to its hood and right side, and was left with its windshield hanging on its hinges and right door ripped off
The RV was seen careening at speeds of up to 60mph from Santa Clarita into the San Fernando Valley
The owner of that RV - a Granada Hills woman - said that not only was her vehicle stolen, but her identity information was stolen as well and was used to purchase a motorcycle in Simi Valley. The woman reported the identity theft to Simi Valey Police on April 30.
Three people, including the driver, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries in the chase, according to NBC.
The chase began in Santa Clarita, just north of L.A., when the RV failed to yield for the California Highway Patrol.
A TV news helicopter followed the chase for almost half an hour as it sped through residential streets and along a highway.
Video showed the RV careening at speeds of up to 60mph from Santa Clarita into the San Fernando Valley. The driver was seen behind the wheel with two dogs in her lap.
The RV hit several cars and a palm tree in a shopping mall parking lot that tore off the passenger-side door and wrecked the front end, leaving the windshield dangling on the hood.
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The RV hit several cars and then a palm tree in a shopping mall parking lot that tore off the passenger-side door and wrecked the front end
The woman was seen crashing into trees and driving at high speeds, evading police
The wild and reckless driver led authorities on the high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley that began in the Santa Clarita area just before 7pm
A TV news helicopter followed the chase for almost half an hour as it sped through residential streets and along a highway
The RV plowed into this black car, leaving debris and shrapnel in its wake. The black car was hit so hard it spun around and its hood was ripped off
The RV crashed into numerous vehicles on its journey through the north L.A. suburb. A heavily damaged black car that the suspect plowed into pictured above
She was driving through this upscale neighborhood when she lost control of the car, slammed into a sedan, and was finally cornered by police
Crash: The RV recklessly crashed into this white sedan then her trailer came to a halt and she left out and ran for it
At one point, a large dog in the driver's lap scrambled halfway out of the shattered windshield area and jumped from the moving vehicle, landing in a tumble on the road.
The RV stopped for a moment, but the dog got up and appeared unharmed as it ran to the curb.
The chase continued and another dog was seen dangling from the window.
The driver held on to the back of the petrified dog, as it too tried to escape the camper.
The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle, which was falling apart as it was traveling.
It rear-ended another car at high speed in the upscale residential Tarzana neighborhood, plowed into some trees and came to a halt at 7.35pm.
After crashing into a white sedan the trailer finally stopped while on a sidewalk
The driver then ran out of her car with her dog following in tow until highway patrol officers got to her
Eventually the female driver lost control of the vehicle and both she and her dog tried to make a run for it but were quickly tackled by authorities
The female suspect got out of the RV and took off on foot after the crash. Her second dog, appearing injured, followed her as she attempted to get away from officers
After the trailer stopped moving, the suspect jumped out of the camper with her dog hobbling behind her, as they tried to make their getaway on foot.
She was soon caught by a pair of police officers who took the female driver into custody.
The suspect and one driver she hit were both taken away in ambulances. There was no immediate word on their conditions.
According to CBS2 both dogs are safe and in the custody of Animal Control with non life-threatening injuries.
In total, the driver reportedly hit at least six cars and three people were hospitalized because of the chase.
- Good Morning America on Twitter: "WATCH: This RV led police on a wild and dangerous pursuit through the streets of Los Angeles. https://t.co/dCuujVag6a @ABonTV reports live from L.A.… https://t.co/Ad044n6rSt"
- Police Pursuit of Suspected Stolen Motor Home in San Fernando Valley - NBC 7 San Diego
- Woman With Two Dogs In Stolen Motor Home Leads Police On Wild Pursuit – CBS Los Angeles
