This Thursday the news broke that O.J. Simpson died at the age of 76 after battling cancer. The former athlete and actor was the protagonist in the past of the most scandalous crime in Hollywood in the 90s. Following his death, there has been talk again about the murder he committed in the past and the events surrounding that case. . One of his most remembered moments was when he was involved in a car chase on June 17, 1994. A shocking and surreal moment that has remained in the memory of many Americans.
The former American football player, then an actor, was the main suspect in the brutal murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. As authorities prepared to charge him with the crimes, Simpson’s attorney wanted to arrange for him to be turned over. However, his client ignored her, and he defied the authorities.
Shortly after six p.m., O.J. and his friend Al Cowlings embarked on a trip aboard a white Ford Bronco, owned by the former soccer player. That vehicle would later become part of television history. With Cowlings behind the wheel and Simpson in the back seat, the pair engaged in a low-speed chase along Interstate 5, south of Los Angeles. A scene that everyone saw on the small screen, both on news programs and on talk shows.
Although authorities asked the then-actor to surrender peacefully, he remained in the vehicle. For his part, Cowlings maintained contact with negotiators via cell phone, providing updates on the mental state of his companion. It was even learned that Simpson held a gun to his head, raising fears that the chase would end in something much worse.
After two hours of pursuit, the vehicle stopped at the entrance to Simpson, located in Brentwood (California). For several minutes, Simpson negotiated with police, getting in and out of his truck several times. After 45 minutes of great tension and uncertainty, he surrendered to the police.
The truth is that the chase is one of the key moments on American television. As news spread and the actor’s behavior was echoed, television networks interrupted programming to provide live coverage of the chase. In fact, cameras were even mounted on helicopters that tracked every movement.
