7 Shocking Facts About The O.J. Simpson White Bronco Chase You Never Knew

Thirty years later, the low-speed police pursuit of O.J. Simpson in a white Ford Bronco remains one of the most surreal and culturally significant events in American history. On June 17, 1994, a staggering 95 million viewers tuned in, eclipsing all other news and even preempting the NBA Finals, to watch a slow-moving vehicle driven by Al Cowlings navigate the Los Angeles freeways. This event was not just a police chase; it was a live-action, unscripted drama that marked the beginning of the 'Trial of the Century' and fundamentally altered the relationship between celebrity, media, and the public.

As of today, December 18, 2025, the legacy of that two-hour pursuit continues to fascinate and provoke discussion, especially as the 30th anniversary recently passed. New details and the ultimate fate of the infamous vehicle have kept the story alive, highlighting the deep cultural scars left by the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

O.J. Simpson: A Brief Biography and Profile

Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson was a towering figure in American sports and entertainment long before the infamous White Bronco chase. His life was a dramatic arc from celebrated hero to controversial defendant.

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• Full Name: Orenthal James Simpson
• Date of Birth: July 9, 1947
• Place of Birth: San Francisco, California
• Education: University of Southern California (USC)
• NFL Career: Running Back for the Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) and the San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979).
• Key Achievements: Heisman Trophy winner (1968), NFL MVP (1973), First player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season (1973), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1985).
• Post-NFL Career: Sports broadcaster, actor (most notably in The Naked Gun film series).
• Key Relationships: Married to Marguerite L. Whitley (1967–1979) and Nicole Brown (1985–1992).
• Legal Events: Acquitted of the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman; later found liable in a 1997 civil suit; convicted in 2008 for armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.
• Current Status: Released from prison in 2017 after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence.

The Infamous White Bronco: Its True Owner and Current Location

One of the most enduring misconceptions about the June 17, 1994, chase is that the white Ford Bronco belonged to O.J. Simpson. In fact, the vehicle was owned and driven by his close friend and former Buffalo Bills teammate, Al “A.C.” Cowlings. Simpson did own a matching white Bronco, but that vehicle was found to have blood in it following the murders, which is why Cowlings' Bronco was the one used in the pursuit.

The chase began after Simpson failed to surrender to police on charges related to the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Cowlings was behind the wheel, desperately trying to keep Simpson calm, who was reportedly in the back seat threatening to kill himself with a gun.

Where is the O.J. Simpson Bronco Today?

After the chase, the white Ford Bronco became a macabre piece of history. For 17 years following Simpson’s acquittal, the SUV sat in a parking garage, a silent relic of the nation's obsession. Its current location is a major point of interest for true crime enthusiasts.

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As of today, the infamous vehicle is on loan and prominently displayed at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It has been a central exhibit there since 2016, where it is often parked near other artifacts of notorious criminals, such as a Volkswagen Beetle driven by serial killer Ted Bundy. The museum even claims that Cowlings stated Simpson forced him into the vehicle at gunpoint, intending to drive to Nicole Brown Simpson's grave. The car's California license plate, 3DHY503, is also a detail that has been preserved in historical records.

The Cultural Impact: Why 95 Million People Stopped to Watch

The O.J. Simpson chase was a pivotal moment that ushered in the era of 24/7 cable news and reality television. The sheer number of viewers—an estimated 95 million—is a figure rarely seen for a non-sporting event. Several factors contributed to this unprecedented national pause:

• The Celebrity Factor: Simpson was a beloved figure—a Heisman winner, NFL legend, and Hollywood actor. The idea that "The Juice" was a murder suspect was unfathomable to many.
• Live, Unfolding Drama: The chase was broadcast live, unedited, and without commercial interruption across all major networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN. This created a shared national experience that transcended typical news coverage.
• Preempting the NBA Finals: In a truly bizarre moment, NBC famously split its screen to show both the chase and Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets, demonstrating the chase's superior grip on the public consciousness.
• The Suicide Threat: Reports from the police and media indicated that Simpson was in the back of the Bronco with a gun, threatening to take his own life. This added a layer of profound personal tragedy and suspense to the event.

The chase itself was a low-speed pursuit, a stark contrast to the high-speed, action-packed chases often seen in movies. This slow, almost ceremonial procession across the 405 freeway allowed viewers time to gather, call friends, and watch the events unfold in real-time, cementing it as an inescapable cultural phenomenon that "changed L.A. forever."

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More Shocking Details from the O.J. Simpson Pursuit

Beyond the basic narrative, several lesser-known facts and entities contribute to the complexity and lasting intrigue of the Bronco chase:

1. A Letter Was Left Behind: Before the chase, Simpson left a letter that many interpreted as a suicide note. It was read aloud by his friend and lawyer, Robert Kardashian, at a press conference, further fueling the public's emotional investment in the unfolding drama.
2. The Car's Gas was Removed: After the Bronco was recovered, the original gas was reportedly removed from the vehicle. This detail, while seemingly minor, speaks to the intense scrutiny and preservation efforts applied to every component of the chase vehicle.
3. The Police’s Restraint: The LAPD’s handling of the situation was highly unusual. Due to the suicide threat and the public nature of the event, police negotiators were in constant contact with Cowlings and Simpson. They ultimately allowed Cowlings to drive Simpson to his Brentwood estate, where he surrendered, rather than forcing a dangerous high-speed stop.
4. The "Heads-Up" Phone Call: Police were able to locate the white Bronco by tracing calls made from Simpson's cellular phone, a technology that was far less ubiquitous in 1994 than it is today.
5. The Public Reaction on the Freeway: As the chase progressed, bystanders gathered on overpasses and along the freeway, cheering and holding up signs. This public spectacle blurred the line between a serious criminal investigation and a bizarre celebrity parade, a phenomenon that was new at the time.
6. The Unused Evidence: While the combination of a gun, a friend driving, and a suicide threat was suspicious, prosecutor Marcia Clark ultimately did not use certain elements of the chase as core evidence during the murder trial, focusing instead on the forensic evidence.
7. The Bronco's Value: Following the trial, the owners of the Bronco received multiple offers to purchase the vehicle, a testament to its status as a notorious piece of true crime memorabilia.

The O.J. Simpson car chase remains a powerful and fresh topic because it encapsulates a moment when America collectively held its breath. It was a fusion of sports, celebrity, crime, and media that set the stage for the modern true-crime obsession and continues to be studied by sociologists and media historians alike.