The chase began after the sheriff's office received a report of a reckless driver who was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Santa Cruz County and was heading north on state Highway 1 near Davenport, sheriff's Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt said.
A deputy spotted the vehicle on the highway near Pescadero.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Art Montiel said the deputy determined that the car had been reported as stolen.
A lengthy pursuit ensued from Highway 1 onto state Highway 84. At the spot where Highway 84 meets Interstate Highway 280 near Woodside, the suspect vehicle crashed into two other cars, Montiel said.
The CHP continued chasing the vehicle, and the pursuit ended on northbound I-280 just north of Edgewood Road near Redwood City around 10:30 a.m., according to Montiel.
The male driver and his female passenger were both detained, he said.
No injuries were reported, Montiel said.