A violent and brief chase in the San Fernando Valley ended in a crash that nearly struck a woman with a stroller in Panorama City Thursday morning.
Authorities were chasing a man, believed to have stolen the Toyota Prius, on the 118 Freeway and 5 Freeway at about 7:30 a.m. before the suspect got onto surface streets in Panorama City.
The suspect was traveling erratically and at such high speeds, he was seen nearly plowing through people walking on sidewalks and crossing intersections.
A woman who was inside a maroon-colored Mercedes-Benz, which was one of the parked cars the suspect crashed into, was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Despite the damage and several close-calls, area residents said they were glad the conclusion of the chase was not worse.