A 22-year-old carjacking suspect struck pedestrians and a structure during Thursday night’s Rodeo Nights, Holiday Lights festivities in Beverly Hills, injuring four people, including a minor, according to authorities.
A carjacking was reported to Beverly Hills Police Department authorities shortly after 7 p.m. in the 400 block of North Bedford Drive.
“The victim stated that an unknown male suspect used force to steal her vehicle, a black BMW X3, before fleeing the area,” BHPD stated.
Authorities received a 911 report about a “vehicle-versus-pedestrian” traffic collision near Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive shortly after the carjacking.
The black BMW can be seen on the pavement where it stopped after colliding with a building in video of the event that was uploaded to the Citizen App. The airbags within the car were activated, and there was extensive damage to the car and part of the building’s facade.
While several other individuals can be seen gathered around another person who is lying on the ground nearby, paramedics at the site were working to move those hurt during the event onto a stretcher by the automobile.
“During the initial information gathering, it was discovered that the driver of the involved stolen vehicle lost control and crashed,” police stated. “The driver fled the scene on foot, leaving behind multiple injured victims.”
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The suspect, James Portul, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania citizen, was swiftly found and taken into custody by the police.
In order to receive treatment, the victims—two adult males, an adult female, and a juvenile male—were sent to the hospital immediately. It was not immediately clear what their circumstances were.
According to authorities, the 22-year-old defendant was charged with hit-and-run with injury and carjacking.
