Cops engage in high-speed chase with runaway 12-wheeler (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: It was high-drama at noon today when a tipper truck with a flag of a political party draped on its head defied police orders to stop leading to a chase of over 20km from Kajang to Subang Jaya.
It was not until 15 cars were damaged and a dozen gunshots were fired at most of the tyres of the 12-wheeler until it tore off from its rims during the chase was the driver forced to bring it to a halt at USJ 1.
A urine test for drug abuse carried out by police later showed that the driver was high on methamphetamines and was wanted by Ampang police for a drug related offence.
The suspect also did not possess a driving license and the road tax on his lorry was also found to have expired three days ago.
Police records also showed that the man had 10 traffic summons and three arrest warrants issued against him.
The case unfolded at about 12pm when the 27-year-old driver of the truck was flagged down by a traffic policemen at a roadblock at the KM14 Jalan Suntek off the Kajang - Cheras highway after the vehicle was suspected to be overloaded and registration plates were found to be fuzzy.
However, the driver refused to pull over and continued driving prompting a traffic policeman to give chase.
In a video captured by an unknown motorist, the truck driver was seen trying to crash into a traffic policeman's motorcycle during the chase by swerving his vehicle.
Fortunately, the policeman managed to avoid being hit and alerted his colleagues for assistance.
A traffic policeman then fired several gunshots at the tyres of the lorry but the driver continued to flee.
With several flat tires, the man went on driving the large truck that is believed to be laden with gravel and headed towards USJ 1 via the Cheras-KL highway, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Jalan Bukit Jalil and Petaling Jaya with police hot in pursuit.
With seven patrol cars from Subang Jaya and Kajang police hot on his trail, the driver was forced to stop after he could no longer control the truck as 10 of its wheels were reduced to rims after the tyres were shot.
Subang Jaya police chief ACP Mohammad Azlin Sadari said 15 cars parked along a road next several apartments were damaged after the lorry crashed into the vehicles.
He said when the driver got off the lorry, he was set upon by an angry mob but policemen at the scene managed to rescue the man.
Mohammad Azlin said the man is in police custody for investigations.
Several videos of the chase that was captured by the public went viral in the social media today.
In a video, a Pakatan Harapan flag was seen displayed on the head of the lorry.