THIS is the shocking moment a car thief is run down and killed live on TV during a police chase.
CBS News Los Angeles was broadcasting a 30-minute high-speed pursuit through the Mount Washington neighbourhood, and its anchors were left aghast after witnessing the brutal smash.
Live footage from a police chopper shows a white van hurtling down the 110 Freeway, with cop cars close behind.
As it slows down, the driver bundles out and leaps over the central reservation, into the opposite carriageway.
The man loses his footing and is scrambling on the tarmac as a car enters the frame and smashes into him.
CBS’s camera had zoomed in to capture the drama, meaning the anchors and viewers saw the full horror.
Realising what had happened, Juan Fernandez cries: “Oh my God, oh no!”
Editor Mike Rogers urges the producers to “stay wide, stay wide” with the camera angle because “he got hit”.
The shot cuts back to the studio, where Fernandez is open-mouth with his hands to his face.
Maintaining composure, co-anchor Suzie Suh says: “We just saw the person who was being pursued get out of their car and get hit by another speeding car.”
Police later confirmed the suspect died at the scene.
He had not been identified by the county medical examiner as of Tuesday afternoon.
KTLA reported that the man, in his thirties, was struck by two vehicles.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) began chasing the suspect in Downtown LA shortly after 8.30pm Monday, a spokesperson said.
The driver refused to pull over the stolen van when ordered to do so by an officer.
He eventually led police onto the freeway where he was fatally struck.
Animal control were also called to the scene to remove a dog from the inside the van, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The LAPD is handling the investigation.
