Chase suspect dies after crashing into light pole in Boyle Heights, authorities say

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man is dead after a brief police chase ended in a crash in the Boyle Heights area early Friday morning.

The pursuit started at 3:14 a.m. at Indiana Street and Gleason Avenue in East Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Just a few minutes later, authorities say the suspect was speeding and crashed into a light pole at Soto Street and Washington Boulevard.

The driver tried running away on foot before he was taken into custody.

"There was a small amount of force that was used, in the form of possibly a tackle, to take the driver into custody and he was placed into handcuffs," said Sgt. Dan Keene.

Shortly after, the CHP says he suffered a medical emergency and collapsed. The man, only identified as being in his 30s, died at the scene.

The car that he was driving, an Aston Martin, wasn't reported stolen but was registered in Irvine.

Video from the scene showed a safe, trash bags and several packages inside the car. Investigators were trying to obtain a search warrant to determine what exactly was inside.

"We don't know why this driver was going at a high rate of speed, where he was going, where he was coming from... At this time, it's going to be a lengthy investigation," Keene added.