SUV driver crashes, then stabs himself after police try to calm him down

Around six in the evening, a grey Mercedes SUV drifted north on Interstate 5 and clipped a grey Lexus before speeding off. Witnesses called it in, and California Highway Patrol quickly tracked the plates to a Santa Clarita address. When officers knocked, the driver reacted strangely: he locked himself inside, waved a knife, climbed into the back seat, and even started stripping off clothes.Neighbors watched as officers spent hours outside the house trying to talk him down. His brother joined the effort, pleading through the car windows. Around 11:30 p. m. , everything escalated: the man jammed the knife into his neck and then slashed himself multiple times. Police had to stun him to stop the attack. Emergency crews took over, sealed the wound, and rushed him to hospital. Doctors stabilized him, placed him under a mental health hold, and he survived. The whole scene raises questions about how police handle high-risk mental health calls. Officers spent most of the evening negotiating, not knowing if the man would hurt anyone—or himself. Did the delay make things worse? Could more have been done to de-escalate sooner?