Three Children, the Suspect, and Another Driver Were Hospitalized
What began as a carjacking outside a 7-Eleven in East Los Angeles on Friday night ended nearly an hour later with a violent crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, leaving three children, the suspect, the children’s father, and another driver hospitalized, authorities said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported the incident started about 6:40 p.m., when a woman left her Chrysler sedan idling with her three children inside. The children are aged 2, 7, and 9 years old. A male stranger allegedly took the moment to steal the car despite the presence of the children.
The child’s father, who was in another car nearby, tried to stop the carjacking but was unable to do so while sustaining injuries after being dragged by the vehicle.
Sheriff’s deputies located the car and gave pursuit until the car entered the 10 Freeway, when the California Highway Patrol took charge. Because the children were in the car, CHP ruled out a PIT maneuver. Deputies instead used a spike strip, which the suspect hit, at first slowing the car but causing the carjacker to drive erratically as he continued his attempt to escape.
The pursuit came to an end in Malibu when the Chrysler T-boned an SUV on Pacific Coast Highway. All three children were rescued and airlifted to UCLA Medical Center in Westwood with minor to moderate injuries. The SUV’s driver was also hospitalized.
Authorities said the suspect fled barefoot from the wreck, discarding clothing and climbing fences before officers captured him and took him into custody. The kidnapper was also taken to the hospital.
The suspect’s name has not been released.
