Pickup Jumps Curb, Injures 3 Pedestrians

A 30-year-old North Hollywood man was in custody Friday on suspicion of felony drunk driving after his pickup rammed two parked cars, jumped a curb, hit three pedestrians and crashed through a concrete wall, Los Angeles police said.

Carlos Quintanilla was captured by several witnesses as he tried to flee the scene of the 9 p.m. accident Thursday at Vanowen Street and Calhoun Avenue in Van Nuys, Officer Dennis Smith said.

Quintanilla was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, felony hit-and-run driving and child endangerment, Smith said. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the Van Nuys jail.

The three pedestrians were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, authorities said. Jose Galvez, 27, of Sherman Oaks suffered two broken legs, and Herman Sanchez, 21, of Pacoima had his right foot amputated in surgery. Both were listed in stable condition, said Lori Hall, hospital spokeswoman.

3rd Victim Released

Sergio Ramirez, 18, of Van Nuys was treated for a broken left leg at the hospital and released, Hall said.

Quintanilla’s 3- and 7-year-old sons were inside the pickup at the time of the accident, Smith said. The 7-year-old was taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital for observation, he said. The other boy, who was not injured, was released to his mother, Smith said.

Quintanilla was driving east on Vanowen Street when his pickup smashed into the two parked cars, police said. The truck veered off the road onto the sidewalk and hit the three pedestrians before crashing through a 4-foot concrete wall and hitting two more cars, authorities said.

Four people at a nearby apartment building heard the crash and went to investigate, Smith said. They chased and caught Quintanilla when he tried to flee on foot, Smith said.

One of the cars hit by Quintanilla’s pickup turned out to be stolen and was impounded, police said.