Authorities in Los Angeles say a man led police on a chase in a stolen hearse, which still had a body inside, and eventually crashed on a busy freeway.

According to authorities, the hearse-jacker took police on a wild ride Thursday after swiping the vehicle from a church in East Pasadena, California hours before. The body was being transported from a funeral home to the church.

While on the way, the driver was told there were flowers that had to be dropped off at "another" church. The driver stopped there with the keys still inside and delivered the flowers.

When he came back out, the Lincoln Navigator was gone.

Authorities say before it ended, there was a chase that closed a key freeway during the morning rush, and it ended with a crash that left the hearse heavily damaged in the front.

At one point, authorities took to social media to ask the thief to return the hearse and the body.

James Juarez is now in custody on suspicion of grand theft auto.