A suspected car thief behind the wheel of a stolen Lamborghini led police on a brief chase before crashing head-on into the center median at over 115 mph, killing himself instantly. Police released dash and bodycam footage of the deadly incident that occurred in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles police released bodycam and dashcam footage of a deadly April encounter with a suspected car thief who sheared a stolen Lamborghini in half before being ejected in a short but high-speed chase.
On April 6th, LAPD officers pulled up behind a parked Lamborghini with a sleeping driver at the wheel. Upon approaching the vehicle, they discovered that it had been reported stolen and that the suspect had outstanding felony warrants.
The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Los Angeles resident Elliott Dugan, woke up and refused to cooperate with law enforcement. He claimed that he had rented the car, despite police confirming its stolen status.
Officers repeatedly asked Dugan to exit the vehicle, but he refused, asserting his right to remain in the car until given a reason. An officer informed Dugan that he would be detained and asked him to step out several more times.
Undeterred, Dugan hit the gas and sped away. Police pursued him in a short chase that ended just a few blocks away when Dugan crashed into the center median at nearly 115 mph.
The impact split the Lamborghini in two, with one half ending up in the westbound lane of Sherman Way and the other half on the other side. Dugan was ejected from the vehicle and thrown "several hundred feet" up the street, landing on a sidewalk.
Paramedics pronounced Dugan dead at the scene. Police searched the area for witnesses and found no one fleeing after the crash.
The dashcam footage shows the aftermath of the crash, with rubble littering the street and parked cars damaged. The bodycam footage captures the moments immediately after the crash, with officers finding Dugan's body on a sidewalk and confirming his death.
Los Angeles County Jail records indicate that Dugan had been in and out of custody repeatedly over the last three years. He had most recently been released without bond on a misdemeanor charge on January 6th, 2024.
The crash also damaged multiple parked vehicles and took down a tree. The incident remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
