Police said eight people, including teenagers, were struck before the pursuit ended at a McDonald’s drive-thru.
CULVER CITY, CA — A Perris man accused of stealing a car at knifepoint and driving into pedestrians during a police chase was arrested Tuesday night after crashing in a McDonald’s drive-thru in Los Angeles, authorities said.
Police identified the driver as 45-year-old Juan Luis Estrada. Culver City police said he struck eight people, hit several vehicles and injured a police officer during a fast-moving sequence that began with a reported carjacking in downtown Los Angeles and moved through Culver City before ending in the 200 block of Washington Boulevard.
The case began around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when police said Estrada carjacked a white Toyota Camry at knifepoint in downtown Los Angeles. About an hour later, the same vehicle was reported in a felony hit-and-run near Centinela Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Culver City, where four pedestrians were injured. While officers were responding, another hit-and-run was reported in the 3800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. Culver City police spokeswoman Jennifer Atenza said officers received several calls about an erratic driver and used the city’s camera system to help locate the car.
Officers found the white Camry in Culver City and tried to stop it, police said. The driver fled, starting a pursuit that moved along city streets and into Los Angeles. Atenza said officers saw the driver attempt to strike pedestrians as he traveled through the city. “He’s seemingly targeting them,” Atenza said. Police said the driver ran red lights, drove at high speeds and crossed into the wrong side of the road. Video from the chase showed the car striking a 19-year-old pedestrian who was crossing a street.
Police said the victims ranged in age from 15 to 70. Estrada is accused of striking four pedestrians before the pursuit, then hitting an adult pedestrian near Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard, two juveniles on an e-bike near Culver Boulevard and Le Bourget Avenue, and another pedestrian near Canfield Avenue and Culver Boulevard. Early reports listed fewer victims, but police later said eight people were hurt. Authorities said the injuries were not considered life-threatening and the victims were stable. The names of the injured people were not released.
The chase ended when the Camry crashed head-on with another vehicle in a McDonald’s drive-thru. Police said Estrada tried to run after the crash, but officers caught him after a brief foot pursuit. One Culver City police officer suffered minor injuries during the arrest. Estrada was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being booked at the Culver City Jail, police said. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Estrada was booked on suspected carjacking, attempted murder, felony evading, battery and resisting arrest, authorities said. Police also said additional charges could be sought as detectives review videos, witness statements and crash evidence. Investigators are examining whether the pedestrians were intentionally targeted. The Los Angeles Police Department assisted during the pursuit after the chase crossed out of Culver City.
The crash route crossed busy Westside corridors during the evening, including Washington Boulevard, Centinela Avenue, Sepulveda Boulevard and Culver Boulevard. Witness video showed people scattering as the Camry moved near pedestrians and traffic. One witness told local television there was blood at one scene, while another described seeing people rush to help after a person was hit. Police said the sequence created an immediate danger to residents, drivers and people walking through commercial areas.
Detectives continued Friday to review the case and collect evidence from several scenes. Estrada remained in custody as police prepared reports for prosecutors. The next public milestone is expected to be a charging review or court appearance, though a date had not been announced.
Author note: Last updated June 19, 2026.