An alleged carjacker who led police on a high-speed pursuit in a Maserati on Thursday morning was arrested after crashing in a Westside neighborhood, police said.

Los Angeles police said the luxury car was stolen at knifepoint about 7:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard. The victim told officers that someone stuck a sharp object in his back and forced him to hand over the keys.

A few hours later, the owner spotted his car and reported it to police. Officers chased the black Maserati into Santa Monica, where the driver lost control and crashed into parked cars near 16th Street and California Avenue, police said. Aerial footage showed damage to the car’s passenger side and wheels missing.

The driver was taken into custody after attempting to run away, police said.

Christopher Peak was walking home from lunch when he witnessed the chase end with a bang and a plume of smoke, but no police in sight because they were far behind the car.

"We didn’t realize this was a high speed chase," he said.

No one was hurt.

Gabriel Jefferson contributed to this report.