Malibu, CA – Three young boys are recovering at home after a carjacking and subsequent police chase ended in a violent crash in Malibu Friday evening. A 7-year-old sustained a dislocated hip, a 9-year-old suffered a concussion, and a 2-year-old received minor bruises when the stolen vehicle they were traveling in collided at the end of the pursuit. All three have since been discharged from UCLA Children’s hospital.
The family, who wished to remain anonymous, had been anticipating a relaxing holiday weekend when their vehicle was carjacked, turning a family outing into a traumatic ordeal. The incident underscores the growing concern over rising carjacking rates in Los Angeles County and the potential for innocent bystanders to be caught in the crossfire.Formal charges are pending against the suspect, who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after fleeing the scene on foot and being apprehended by California Highway Patrol officers.
According to authorities, the suspect led deputies on a chase that culminated in a crash. The father, speaking in Spanish, described the event as a trauma for the entire family, stating, ”In every single one of us in the family, it’s a trauma that we all have. We never imagined all of this would happen to us.”
The family has established a GoFundMe page to help cover the mounting medical expenses. “Thank God my kids are doing better,” the mother said in Spanish. “We thank everyone for supporting us, everyone for donating to us.” She also noted the loss of her vehicle, which she used for school drop-offs.
A family cousin, Katherine Tax, witnessed the crash unfold live. “Just watching it live, the crash, it was just, you know, I just felt my heart clench,” Tax said. “Justice is going to prevail, and what happened on Friday should never happen to any family.”
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released. Deputies continue to investigate the incident.