Baton Rouge, LA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/21/2011 -- A man and a woman took advantage of Los Angeles' unusually quiet freeways to lead police on a wild car chase late Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The pair took off in a black Hyundai after authorities attempted to conduct a routine drunk-driving stop in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The driver avoided the 405 freeway -- closed until Monday for major works -- but hit several other major roads and traversed two counties, burning rubber at speeds up to 85mph (140kph).

A lack of motorists across the city -- the result of the high-profile "Carmageddon" campaign by local authorities -- gave the fugitives plenty of room to maneuver. They were seen dumping white bags out the car's windows as the chase progressed, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The pursuit began at around 8:00pm local time Saturday and ended about three hours later after police put down a spike stripe on Interstate 5. The two suspects were taken into custody, KCAL-TV reported.

The chase was the most dramatic episode in an otherwise quiet two days on the city's roads. Authorities said early Sunday that "Carmageddon" had been so successful that the 405 could reopen ahead of schedule.

Read more: Los Angeles Times
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Shaw Capital Management Headlines : 'Carmageddon' Sets Scene For LA Car Chase
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/news/%27carmageddon%27-sets-scene-for-la-car-chase-dpgonc-km-20110717_14165813

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