A pair of suspected bank robbers kept Houston police busy with one of the world's slowest car chases Wednesday afternoon — one that drew plenty of local and even national attention.
Early reports have speeds clocking in at 40 miles an hour — with several local TV stations streaming the chase live and cutting into programming to show it. HLN News and CNN Newsource both picked it up nationally, touting live feeds. (A few people took to Twitter to complain about KTRK Ch. 13 showing the chase rather than General Hospital.)
The hour-long pursuit began around 12:30 p.m., when the suspects fled a Trustmark Bank near the Memorial City Mall in a silver minivan. Driving east on the Katy Freeway, the van lead police around much of the 610 Loop as local news helicopters followed from above. KTRK reporters noticed something tossed from the window as the chase started.
KHOU Ch. 11 reported that law enforcement officers were seen throwing spikes across the highway on at least three occasions, but the driver manage to avoid them each time. After taking I-45 south from the North Loop, the van weaved through some heavy traffic and crashed into the open driver's door of an police car.
The minivan blew a tire it exited I-45 at Old Spanish Trail for a quick trip through MacGregor Park and a drive south on Scott Street.
Houston Police Department spokesperson John Cannon tells CultureMap the chase ended at Scott and Noah, a few blocks above the South Loop.
When the car stopped, the passenger surrendered immediately as the driver fled briefly on foot. Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody for questioning. No injuries have been reported.
Watch highlights of the chase from KHOU:
For nearly an hour, Houston police chase a pair of robbery suspects around the 610 Loop and through portions of the Third Ward.
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