An incident that occurred early Friday morning has left two individuals in the hospital, after they were run over by a driver during a street takeover in Anaheim. The victims are only identified as males hailing from Lancaster and Orange, respectively. The street takeover attracted hundreds of bystanders at the intersection of Orangewood Avenue and State College Boulevard around 2 a.m. Many continued sporting their Halloween costumes as they witnessed the event, some capturing the fallout on their mobile devices.
The driver, using a black Dodge Charger, was caught on video revving the vehicles engine, performing high-speed donuts and burnouts. This created a smoky atmosphere, heightened by fireworks exploding in the vicinity and the collective cheers from onlookers. At some juncture, the driver lost control of the vehicle, running over some bystanders and trapping two individuals beneath the car. Social media video footage showed people trying to lift the Charger to free the trapped victims.
Subsequent to the incident, the victims were swiftly transported to a hospital with severe injuries. However, they remained in stable condition by Friday night. Meanwhile, amidst the ensuing chaos, the driver managed to escape the scene before the police arrival. Majority of the spectators had dispersed by the time police reached the scene.
Sgt. Jacob Gallacher from the Anaheim Police Department observed that social media plays a crucial role in publicizing such events. The City of Anaheim had passed a law back in 2021, enabling the police to penalize spectators at street takeovers. In this recent event, the uncontrolled gathering spanned at least an hour, according to witness Jack Wyluda.
The suspect driver, who is wanted by the police, likely faces felony hit-and-run charges. Police are currently examining social media videos of the event to aid with investigations. It is believed that more injuries from the incident are unreported. The Anaheim Police Department is appealing for information related to the incident and can be reached at 714-765-1900.
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