LAPD cruiser crashes onto South LA sidewalk, pins man against wall

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles Police Department cruiser crashed into a parked vehicle then briefly pinned a pedestrian against a wall early Wednesday morning, but the man escaped with minor injuries.

The crash, captured on video by OnScene.TV, occurred around 12:30 a.m. on the 3900 block of South Normandie Avenue. The video shows the man, who is wearing a reflective work vest, walking on the sidewalk when a damaged LAPD cruiser suddenly enters the frame. The vehicle goes onto the sidewalk, and the pedestrian is struck by the front passenger side of the cruiser, pinning him against the wall.

The officer driving the cruiser managed to put the car in reverse and free the man.

LAPD Chief Michel Moore, during an appearance on ABC7, said the officers were on routine patrol and responding to a call when “some kind of mechanical failure” occurred with the vehicle, which went out of control, struck a parked truck then jumped the curb onto the sidewalk.

The chief said department is still investigating what led to the crash. He said it was still unclear how fast the cruiser was going when the driver lost control.

The pedestrian was taken to a hospital with injuries described as minor.