Four people were injured, including a minor, when a vehicle driven by a carjacking suspect crashed into pedestrians and a building in Beverly Hills during the Rodeo Nights, Holiday Lights celebrations. The incident occurred on the evening of November 14, 2024.
The Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) reported receiving a carjacking report shortly after 7 PM from the 400 block of North Bedford Drive. The victim, owner of a black BMW X3, claimed that an unknown male had forcibly taken her car and fled the scene.
Shortly after the aforementioned incident, a 911 call alerted authorities of a vehicle-pedestrian collision near Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive. A black BMW, matching the description of the carjacked vehicle earlier, was spotted crashed into a building. The vehicle, along with a part of the buildings exterior, showed significant damage, with airbags inside the vehicle deployed.
Four individuals, including a juvenile male, and three adults – two males and one female, were injured in the event and rushed to the hospital. The driver of the carjacked vehicle, identified as 22-year-old James Portul from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reportedly lost control of the vehicle and fled the scene on foot after the accident.
BHPD officers were able to quickly locate and apprehend Portul. He has been charged with carjacking and hit-and-run incidents resulting in injuries. Further details regarding the condition of the victims are not immediately available.
From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.