“Extremely dangerous” police chase ends on traffic island

A police chase involving several cars and motorcycles ended when a Hopp car crossed a traffic island and could not go any farther. The driver had been travelling in an altered state and reached 140 kph at the height of the pursuit.

Police began following the driver after receiving a report shortly after noon about someone driving in an altered state in central Reykjavík. When officers ordered the driver to stop, he instead accelerated and ignored their instructions, according to the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police log.

The pursuit ran from Lágmúli toward Breiðholtsbraut and Víðidal. Along the way, the driver hit at least four vehicles, including two police cars, and caused extensive damage to the shared car.

Sævar Guðmundsson, a supervisor with the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, described the driving as “extremely dangerous.” He said it was remarkable that no accident injuries were reported, given that the driver was intoxicated and travelling at such speed. The driver was held in a cell until he became fit to speak with police.

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It is of course extremely dangerous to drive like this, first and foremost under the influence, and also to drive at this speed. It is a miracle that there was no accident.