Carjacking suspect injures 5 people in wild hit-and-run rampage through Culver City
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A suspected carjacker led police on a wild pursuit through Culver City on Tuesday, hitting vehicles and pedestrians until he crashed at a McDonald’s restaurant and was taken into custody, according to authorities
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 45-year-old Juan Luis Estrada of Perris, Calif., according to a Culver City police news release.
Police say Estrada carjacked someone at knifepoint in downtown Los Angeles around 6 p.m., stole a white Toyota Camry and, about an hour later, was involved in a felony hit-and-run collision in which four people were injured near Centinela Avenue and Washington Boulevard.
“While officers were responding to that collision, another hit-and-run was reported in the 3800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, where the same vehicle struck another motorist and again fled,” according to police.
Officers responded, and a pursuit ensued, with the driver driving at high speeds and, at times, on the wrong side of the road and targeting pedestrians with his vehicle, according to the news release.
“The suspect’s actions created a clear and immediate danger to community members and demonstrated a complete disregard for human life,” police said.
While being chased by police, Estrada hit an adult pedestrian near Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard. He also struck two juveniles riding an e-bike near Culver Boulevard and Le Bourget Avenue, then one other pedestrian near Canfield Avenue and Culver Boulevard. The victims range in age from 15 to 70, and their injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The pursuit ended when the driver crashed head-on with another vehicle in the drive-thru of a McDonald’s. Estrada tried to run but was caught and booked into Culver City Jail on charges of carjacking, attempted murder, felony evading, battery, resisting arrest and multiple charges of attempted murder, according to the release. Additional charges are anticipated as authorities continue to investigate.
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