Insets: Cops say Juan Luis Estrada was caught on camera striking multiple pedestrians with a stolen Toyota Camry (Culver City Police Department). Background: The crash scene after Juan Luis Estrada allegedly crashed the Toyota Camry he carjacked into a McDonald’s drive-thru line (KABC/YouTube).
A California teen was “launched” and nearly killed during an alleged carjacking rampage that left him and seven others injured, culminating in a crash in a McDonald’s drive-thru line.
“It’s crazy how things can change in the blink of an eye,” Brandon Mendez, 19, told local ABC affiliate KABC about the Culver City carjacking chase that left him hospitalized.
“I see this car running red lights, and I think nothing of it,” Mendez said. “I see it, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m just going to move out the way.’ I move out the way. He swerves into me, and still hits me.”
Mendez’s interview with KABC was posted Monday, a little less than a month after police arrested suspect Juan Luis Estrada, 45, of Perris, for the Camry rampage. He is currently charged with attempted murder, carjacking, felony evading, battery and resisting arrest.
Estrada carjacked a white Toyota Camry at knifepoint in downtown Los Angeles on June 16 and then got into a “hit-and-run collision” near Centinela Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Culver City that injured four pedestrians, according to a police press release.
Estrada “fled the scene without stopping,” the release says.
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“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,” police allege.
As officers investigated the incidents, information came in through witness statements, the vehicle’s license plate, and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology that helped officers locate Estrada in Culver City.
At around 7:26 p.m., officers located Estrada near Centinela Avenue and attempted to stop him. Estrada allegedly refused to yield and fled eastbound on Culver Boulevard, initiating a pursuit.
“During the pursuit, officers observed the suspect drive with an extreme disregard for public safety,” police say. “The suspect traveled at high speeds, ran multiple red lights, drove into opposing lanes of traffic, and weaved recklessly around other vehicles. Officers also observed the suspect repeatedly steer toward pedestrians who were in or near the roadway.”
Police believe Estrada was “intentionally attempting to strike pedestrians” that night. At least eight people were injured during his rampage.
“The suspect’s actions created a clear and immediate danger to community members and demonstrated a complete disregard for human life,” police say.
Recounting how he was struck, Mendez told KABC, “I was hit, and I was launched pretty far. They caught him moving at 80 mph.”
Estrada was allegedly caught on surveillance video striking multiple people with the stolen Camry, including Mendez. A GoFundMe launched by Mendez’s sister says “the impact sent Brandon flying 20 feet, causing him to lose his belongings and leaving him with life-threatening injuries.”
Mendez suffered severe internal bleeding, spinal and cerebral fractures and a chipped tooth, and he had his spleen removed, KABC reports. His aorta was also torn and he now has a stent “to help him recover,” according to Mendez’s sister.
“I can’t lift more than 25 pounds right now,” Mendez told KABC.
Estrada’s evening onslaught finally ended at a McDonald’s in the 200 block of Washington Boulevard, according to police.
“[Estrada] collided head-on with another vehicle in [the McDonald’s] drive-thru lane,” cops allege. “[Estrada]Â exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by pursuing officers.”
Police say “additional charges are anticipated as detectives continue reviewing evidence, surveillance footage, and witness statements.”
The post Chaos in McDonald’s drive-thru line as carjacker slams into people waiting for food, teen ‘launched’ 20 feet and 7 others injured during evening Camry rampage: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
