Scenes reminiscent of a Hollywood car chase unfolded on Friday afternoon (19.06.2026) in Palaio Faliro, Athens, after a 33-year-old woman stole a car in Kallithea and triggered a high-speed pursuit across the city.
A Theft and a Runaway Ride
According to police investigators, the woman approached a parked vehicle around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Grypari and Aristogeitonos streets in Kallithea. She managed to break in, start the engine, and vanish within seconds—launching a reckless, high-risk drive that ended dramatically in Palaio Faliro.
Crash and Chaos
Her journey came to a violent halt upon reaching Palaio Faliro. Losing control of the stolen vehicle—a yellow van—she struck four parked cars in quick succession, causing extensive damage and sparking panic among residents and passersby. Loud crash sounds prompted people to rush into the streets.
Immediately after the collisions, the woman abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Police officers gave chase through nearby streets until they apprehended and handcuffed her—bringing the chaotic episode to an end.
Witness Account: A Narrow Escape
One local resident, whose vehicle was among those hit, described the incident to newsit.gr: “She drove the wrong way down Kronou Street for about 200 meters, then slammed into four cars. Neighbors tried to stop her—and so did the owner of one of the damaged vehicles—but she reversed and kept going.”
Another witness added: “After about 50 meters, she nearly ran over an elderly man who narrowly avoided being struck at the last second. The van then crashed into the ground-floor canopy of a residential building and came to a stop.” He said officers from the DIAS rapid-response unit arrived roughly 10 minutes later and arrested her.
Alcohol Test Reveals Extreme Intoxication
The most startling revelation came during the subsequent breath test: her blood alcohol concentration measured 0.90 mg/l—more than three times the legal limit of 0.25 mg/l. She is now facing formal charges, and a case file has been submitted to the prosecutor’s office.