Traffic on the streets and freeways of Los Angeles turned into a rolling fireworks show Tuesday night when a battered black pickup truck tore through the city on just three wheels, spraying sparks across the pavement while police cruisers stayed close behind. The dramatic pursuit, first amplified by Mario Nawfal on X, instantly exploded across social media because of the truck’s unbelievable condition and the danger surrounding the chase.
The now-viral footage shows the heavily damaged pickup barreling through highways and surface streets with one wheel completely destroyed. Metal scraped violently against the asphalt, sending bright orange sparks flying behind the truck like a trail from a grinding machine.
Authorities believed the pickup had been stolen before the pursuit began. Officers from the California Highway Patrol, with possible support from the Los Angeles Police Department, followed the suspect through busy sections of the city as the vehicle continued to deteriorate during the chase.
The footage, which lasts roughly 32 seconds, captured nearly every moment people expect from a chaotic Southern California police pursuit. High speeds, glowing sparks, flashing patrol lights, crowded roads, and a tense arrest combined to create one of the most visually intense chase clips circulating online this week.
A Pickup Truck Barely Holding Together
According to details circulating alongside the video, the suspect drove recklessly across portions of the Los Angeles freeway network late Tuesday night. Highway signs visible in the clip suggest the chase passed through areas near downtown LA, including stretches close to 9th Street and several major interchanges.
The pickup itself appeared barely capable of moving. One tire had either burst or been stripped away entirely, leaving the truck grinding directly on its metal rim while traveling at highway speed.
That damage created the clip’s most jaw-dropping visual. As the exposed metal slammed against the pavement, a constant shower of sparks erupted beneath the truck, lighting up the road behind it and raising fears of a possible fire or explosion.
Drivers nearby could be seen slowing down and moving away as the suspect pushed forward despite the severe condition of the vehicle. The risk level increased with every mile because sparks near leaking fuel, dry roadside debris, or surrounding vehicles could have triggered a catastrophic crash.
Police Stay Close Through the Pursuit
Police vehicles remained behind the truck throughout the chase, their flashing lights reflecting off the shower of sparks trailing from the damaged pickup. Officers appeared to give the suspect room while still maintaining pressure as the pursuit shifted between freeway lanes and city streets.
Investigators reportedly believe spike strips may have been used earlier in the incident to disable the truck’s tires. That tactic is commonly deployed during pursuits involving stolen vehicles, especially when suspects refuse to stop after repeated commands from law enforcement.
Even with the destroyed wheel, the suspect continued driving aggressively through traffic. The truck swerved between lanes and pushed forward at dangerous speeds despite the growing mechanical damage.
Los Angeles has become famous for televised police pursuits over the decades, partly because of the city’s sprawling freeway system and dense traffic patterns. Still, even longtime viewers described this chase as unusually intense because the truck seemed moments away from completely falling apart.
The Chase Comes to an End
🇺🇸 A man in LA just led Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase in his 3-wheel truck… literally throwing sparks the entire way.
Every second that vehicle was moving, it was one pothole away from becoming a fireball surrounded by civilians.pic.twitter.com/CX1PuVPOrN
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 26, 2026
The pursuit finally ended after the pickup came to a stop on surface streets. Officers rushed toward the vehicle and ordered the driver out before taking him into custody without a major collision or exchange of force.
Video from the scene shows the suspect, described as a Hispanic man with short dark hair wearing a dark shirt and chain, lying on the ground while officers placed him in handcuffs. He was later escorted toward a patrol car as multiple officers secured the scene.
No serious injuries to bystanders or officers were visible in the footage shared online. That outcome came as a relief considering the extreme danger created by the truck’s condition and the suspect’s driving behavior throughout the pursuit.
The original footage shared by Mario Nawfal helped propel the chase into viral territory overnight, with viewers stunned by the image of a pickup truck racing through Los Angeles while throwing sparks across the roadway like a cutting torch.