3 Held in U-Haul Truck Chase : Crime: Early-morning pursuit that started in Sylmar ends in Palmdale when suspects’ vehicle loses a wheel. The 16-year-old driver faces evading-arrest charges.

A wild chase from Sylmar to Palmdale ended in three arrests Sunday after the suspects eluded authorities for 45 minutes--in a U-Haul truck.

The pursuit involved the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department before ending when a wheel from the 20-foot U-Haul truck fell off at Avenue Q-1 and 35th Street in Palmdale, authorities said.

“It’s not an everyday chase,” said LAPD Sgt. Marc Zavala. The top speed, he said, reached 65 m.p.h.

The driver, a 16-year-old boy from Palmdale, was arrested on felony evading-arrest charges and released to his parents, sheriff’s officials said. Esteban Meza, 20, of Pacoima and Jose Leal, 18, of Palmdale were charged with resisting arrest.

No one was injured in the chase.

Authorities are still investigating the incident. The truck, which was empty, is believed to have been stolen from Northern California, Zavala said. Grand theft auto charges may be filed against the trio.

The chase began about 5 a.m. near Astoria Street and Dronfield Avenue in Sylmar. The suspects refused to stop the truck for LAPD officers, who wanted to determine if it had been stolen or if there were narcotics inside, authorities said.

Police pursued the truck onto the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway, where CHP officers joined the chase, Zavala said.

The truck eventually got off on Palmdale Boulevard and the chase was taken up by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies from the Antelope Valley.

“What finally ended the pursuit was when their left wheel fell off,” Zavala said. “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably still be driving.”