Insets: Authorities say Juan Luis Estrada was seen on video hitting several pedestrians with a stolen Toyota Camry (Culver City Police Department). Background: The aftermath of the crash after Estrada allegedly drove the carjacked Camry into a McDonald’s drive-thru lane (KABC/YouTube).
A 19-year-old California man says he was sent flying and nearly lost his life during an alleged carjacking spree that injured eight people and ended when the stolen vehicle slammed into a McDonald’s drive-thru line.
“It’s crazy how things can change in the blink of an eye,” Brandon Mendez told local ABC station KABC, reflecting on the Culver City carjacking chase that put him in the hospital.
Mendez said he noticed the car blowing through red lights but initially believed he could simply get out of its path. “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,” he recalled.
His interview with KABC aired Monday, nearly one month after police arrested Juan Luis Estrada, 45, of Perris, in connection with the Toyota Camry rampage. Estrada now faces charges including attempted murder, carjacking, felony evading, battery and resisting arrest.
According to a Culver City Police Department press release, Estrada allegedly stole a white Toyota Camry at knifepoint in downtown Los Angeles on June 16 before becoming involved in a hit-and-run crash near Centinela Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Culver City, where four pedestrians were injured.
Police said Estrada did not stop after that collision and instead drove away from the scene.
As officers were still responding to the first crash, investigators said a second hit-and-run was reported in the 3800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, where the same vehicle allegedly struck another driver and once again fled.
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] 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.
