A dramatic standoff brought the 91 Freeway in Riverside to a grinding halt Friday morning after a crash involving a stolen Kia sparked a massive law enforcement response.
Authorities sealed off every eastbound and westbound lane between 14th Street and Mission Inn Avenue while heavily armed officers surrounded the wrecked blue vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans.
The shutdown remained in effect for hours under a Sigalert before traffic finally resumed around noon.
Gridlocked drivers watched the tense scene unfold as tactical officers carrying rifles and K9 teams converged on the freeway.
An armored vehicle was also brought in during the operation.
At one point, officers pumped thick white smoke into the Kia after the suspect barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.
Around 10 a.m., the man, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, finally emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle as officers yelled commands.
He was immediately taken into custody.
Video from the scene later showed the suspect seated on a stretcher surrounded by paramedics and law enforcement personnel.
Numerous ambulances and emergency crews responded to the freeway, though authorities have not confirmed whether anyone was hurt in the crash.
The California Highway Patrol has not released additional details about the suspect, when the Kia was reported stolen, or what events led up to the standoff.
As the chaos stretched on, stranded motorists climbed out of their vehicles to film the extraordinary police operation unfolding in the middle of the freeway.
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