Man robbed while aiding stranded motorist TOLUCA...

Man robbed while aiding stranded motorist

TOLUCA LAKE -- A vending machine repairman was robbed while

attempting to assist a driver whose car broke down, police said.

The 26-year-old North Hollywood man was driving eastbound on West

Riverside Drive about 5:30 a.m. Thursday when he noticed a motorist

who appeared to be stranded.

When he pulled over his company truck to help, several other men

pulled up in another car, taped the man’s hands behind his back and

stole some boxes containing vending machine coins. The assailants,

including the stranded driver, took the man against his will and

dropped him off at the Cahuenga Boulevard offramp on the Ventura

(134) Freeway in North Hollywood, police said.

The victim, who was not hurt, freed himself and called 911.

Burbank Police are investigating the incident, Sgt. Will Berry said.

Berry said the best way to help stranded drivers is to call the

police from a cell phone or nearby pay phone in a safe location.

Man’s wheelchair hits 18-wheeler

MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH -- A 40-year-old Burbank man reportedly

jumped out of his wheelchair just before it collided with a

tractor-trailer Thursday night, police said.

The driver of the truck, a 32-year-old Burbank man, was turning

right onto Andover Drive from North San Fernando Boulevard about 6

p.m. when the truck and wheelchair collided, witnesses told police.

No one was injured, Burbank Police Sgt. Will Berry said.

“The evidence indicates that the tractor-trailer was legally

turning in the intersection during [the incident],” Berry said.

It’s unclear why the wheelchair and vehicle collided, police said.

Compiled by Jackson Bell