Stolen U-Haul Driver Says 'Good Morning, LA' After Arrest: Cops

BUENA PARK, CA — An Orange County man suspected of stealing a large U-Haul moving truck from Buena Park led California Highway Patrol officers on a cross-county pursuit early Tuesday.

The 47-year-old driver, whose name was not yet released as of this report, is suspected of stealing three vehicles during that chase—the U-haul, a trailer it was towing, and a motorcycle that was inside the main truck, according to CHP.

He fled from the burning U-haul in Bell Flower after the truck caught fire. He was placed under arrest as of 7 a.m.

When asked if he had anything to say, the suspect responded with a laugh, and said: "Good morning, LA," according to KTLA 5 reports.

CHP spokesperson Marcos Iñiguez reported that the driver is "not a young kid. He's 47-years-old and should know what the consequences are."

The contents of the 26-foot U-Haul included a motorcycle among other items. The primary stolen vehicle caught fire after driving on the rims for nearly a half-hour after CHP officers deployed a spike strip.

At the sign of flames, the driver exited the 91 freeway at Bellflower Boulevard in the Downey area, then fled the scene on foot into an apartment complex where he was later arrested.

The cab of the truck ignited as firefighters arrived at the scene to extinguish the blaze.

The driver drove in a loop from Buena Park into East Los Angeles and back again. The driver drove westbound through Anaheim on the 91 Freeway when CHP officers deployed the spike strip.

He drove on the rims toward the 605 Freeway at speeds as low as 10 miles per hour. The spikes flattened the front tires after CHP officers deployed a spike strip when the truck exited on Euclid, in the city of Fullerton, off the 91 freeway. The driver continued to drive on the rims until sparks set the entire truck on fire, according to video from news helicopters in the area.

The pursuit began at approximately 5 a.m. when a person who allegedly stole a U-Haul truck in Buena Park and led officers on a chase from Orange County into Los Angeles County.

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