Worker Jumps Out Of Carjacked Coffee Truck Mid-Chase: Police

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — An armed carjacker today is in custody after stealing a pickup truck towing a coffee vendor's trailer with an employee still inside, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The vendor is lucky to be alive after jumping from the trailer before the suspect crashed and overturned the trailer in North Hollywood Monday night. Even then, the suspect attempted to flee the scene of the crash, prompting police to establish a perimeter to find him, according to the LAPD. He was found a short time later hiding inside a porta-potty.

The high-speed chase began shortly after 9 p.m. Monday. The truck was stolen in Ventura County and the LAPD picked up the chase after spotting the vehicle in the San Fernando Valley.

The suspect sped at high speeds on surface streets in Valley Village and North Hollywood, where he attempted to make a turn at Tujunga Avenue from Chandler Boulevard and lost control of the truck and overturned the trailer, according to KTLA. Bystander video posted to social media, shows the truck attempt to make a right turn at top speed only to flip the trailer onto its side, sending it careening straight into a performing arts center.

The suspect abandoned the truck and ran away from the scene with officers in pursuit and at one point jumped on top of a large storage box before running away from police.

Officers established a perimeter near Chandler Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue. KCAL 9 reported the man was taken into custody after officers found him hiding inside a portable restroom round 10:30 p.m. Monday.

The injured employee was taken to a hospital with minor cuts and bruises.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.