Dramatic moment an alleged car thief abandons his vehicle and flees on foot after a high-speed police chase in front of other motorists
- A 42-year-old man allegedly stole two cars in a high-speed pursuit in Adelaide
- He was allegedly involved in a four-car crash before police spiked his tyres
- A witness said their car was almost pushed into a parked truck during the pursuit
A man that allegedly stole two cars in a violent high-speed pursuit before abandoning his final vehicle to flee on foot has been arrested.
Dramatic footage captured by a woman allegedly almost side-swiped by the thief showed him surrounded by police on Cross Road, south of Adelaide on Friday.
The 42-year-old man is seen allegedly jumping out of the stolen vehicle as an officer attempted to grab the man as he left the Toyota Rav4 before he ran down a side street.
Angel Xenikis, 19, said her mum Patricia was driving them to the shops when the allegedly speeding stolen RAV4 approached them while swerving wildly.
A 42-year-old man allegedly stole two cars before fleeing on foot on Cross Road, south of Adelaide on Friday
We were driving down Cross Road and all of a sudden there was this car right next to us swerving and almost hit us.
Miss Xenikis said they became trapped between a parked truck and the allegedly stolen vehicle as it raced passed.
'Luckily my mum navigated it really well and didn't hit the truck but I recon we came about 5cm from hitting either his car of the truck,' she said.
'We noticed his tyres were flat and thought that was why he was losing control of the car but then he just jumped out and bolted while the cops ran after him.'
In the video Miss Xenikis could be heard saying 'that car almost hit us, and when I say he almost hit us I mean we almost f***ing died.'
After police spike the tyres of the stolen Rav4 the man allegedly ran off but was arrested and taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries
The alleged chase began when police were called to a four-car crash at the intersection of Belair Road and Cross Road at Kingswood at 11:45am
The 42-year-old then allegedly got out of his car and dragged the driver of a Holden Commodore out of their car and drove away.
The Commodore was then allegedly involved with 'numerous traffic incidents' before he crashed it into a tree, according to a spokesperson from SA Police.
Angel Xenikis, 19, (right) said her mum Patricia (left) was driving them to the shops when the allegedly speeding stolen Toyota RAV4 approached them while swerving wildly
He then alleged approached a woman driving a Rav4 on Diagonal Road at Warradale and stole the car but abandoned it after its tyres were spiked by police.
The 42-year-old was arrested after a 'short foot pursuit' and taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
'He is expected to be charged with two aggravated robberies, engaging in a police pursuit and other serious driving offences,' police said in a statement.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or captured dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
