The chase of the white Bronco

By Brent Lewis @blewisphoto

June 16, 2016

Almost 22 years to the date, Al Cowlings pressed down on the gas pedal of a 1993 Ford Bronco while his friend O.J. Simpson, who had been told to surrender to police, sat in the backseat with a gun, and sped off, causing a car chase that led police and TV viewers nationwide through the streets of Los Angeles. This low-speed chase not only kicked off the world’s interest in the case, but also became a moment in pop culture that people think of when they hear the name O.J. Simpson.

Being a day shy of my fourth birthday at the time, I barely remember this, but that’s the power of pictures. While digging photos up for all the Simpson stories we have done, I came across a nice amount of photos that tell the story of this chase and I thought that it would selfish not to share.

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Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
The white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.

The white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.
In this June 17, 1994 file photo, a white Ford Bronco, driven by Al Cowlings carrying O.J. Simpson, is trailed by Los Angeles police cars as it travels on a Southern California freeway in Los Angeles. Cowlings and Simpson led authorities on a chase after Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.

In this June 17, 1994 file photo, a white Ford Bronco, driven by Al Cowlings carrying O.J. Simpson, is trailed by Los Angeles police cars as it travels on a Southern California freeway in Los Angeles. Cowlings and Simpson led authorities on a chase after Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
People watch and wave from a freeway overpass as police cars pursue a Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

People watch and wave from a freeway overpass as police cars pursue a Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
Robert Kardashian, a friend of O.J. Simpson, reads a letter Simpson wrote before disappearing, June 17, 1994 during a news conference in Los Angeles. Simpson was declared a fugitive and eluded police for several hours before a freeway chase ended in his arrest. Simpson faces two counts of murder.

Robert Kardashian, a friend of O.J. Simpson, reads a letter Simpson wrote before disappearing, June 17, 1994 during a news conference in Los Angeles. Simpson was declared a fugitive and eluded police for several hours before a freeway chase ended in his arrest. Simpson faces two counts of murder.
Photo shows the first page of a four-page letter written by O.J. Simpson concerning charges against him in connection with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole, and Ronald Goldman.

Photo shows the first page of a four-page letter written by O.J. Simpson concerning charges against him in connection with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole, and Ronald Goldman.
Police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
Motorists wave signs as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Motorists wave signs as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
People line the freeway as the white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.

People line the freeway as the white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.
Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.

Motorists wave as police cars pursue the Ford Bronco (white, R) driven by Al Cowlings, carrying fugitive murder suspect O.J. Simpson, on a 90-minute slow-speed car chase June 17, 1994 on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles, California. Simpson's friend Cowlings eventually drove Simpson home, with Simpson ducked under the back passenger seat, to Brentwood where he surrendered after a stand-off with police.
The white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.

The white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is followed by Los Angeles police on the LA freeways as police try to talk Simpson out of a possible suicide following a double homicide of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The chase ended at Simpsons home in the driveway where it was feared he would commit suicide.
O.J. Simpson, center of rear seat, rides into Parker Center, the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, Friday night, June 17, 1994 after his arrest following a low-speed freeway chase which ended in the drive of his Brentwood estate in Los Angeles. Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole, and Ron Goldman.

O.J. Simpson, center of rear seat, rides into Parker Center, the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, Friday night, June 17, 1994 after his arrest following a low-speed freeway chase which ended in the drive of his Brentwood estate in Los Angeles. Simpson was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole, and Ron Goldman.