Exactly twenty years ago today, football great O.J. Simpson was involved in a high speed police chase on the Los Angeles Freeway in a white Ford Bronco.

Named a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, Simpson and his long-time friend Al Cowlings rode down the freeway in the two-door SUV, creating a frenzy. Simpson contemplated committing suicide while riding in the car.

The historic low-speed chase on June 17, 1994 became a ‘where were you when’ moment as an estimated 90 million television viewers watched the chase on network television. Simpson didn’t commit suicide and he and Cowlings eventually stopped the car and surrendered to the LAPD.

Watch The Chase

On October 3, 1995, Simpson was acquitted on murder charges and was a free man. The verdict was a global topic as an estimated 100 million people worldwide stopped what they were doing to watch or listen to the verdict announcement. An estimated $480 million was lost in productivity.

Long-distance telephone call volume declined by 58% and trading volume on the New York Stock Exchange was down by 41%. Additionally, water usage decreased as people avoided using bathrooms, and government officials postponed meetings.

The victims’ families were awarded $33.5 million in a civil suit against Simpson in 1997.