Beverly Hills police responded to the Rodeo Drive area Thursday evening after an SUV crashed into a building near the city’s holiday light show.
Detectives said 22-year-old Pittsburgh resident James Portul allegedly carjacked a woman’s black BMW X3 in the 400 block of North Bedford Drive and drove toward the light show around 7:05 p.m. Portul drove a few more blocks until he lost control of the SUV and crashed into a pillar outside an office building near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Avenue.
A witness said he was speeding and skidded across the road before crashing into the corner of the building.
KCAL News
Before Portul stormed the building, he allegedly ran over two men, a woman and a boy. The Beverly Hills Fire Department transported all victims to the hospital in unknown condition. According to police, one of the victims was a salesperson.
Portul reportedly ran from the crash site, but officers assigned to a city event quickly detained him in the 200 block of South Beverly Drive. The Rodeo Drive holiday light show was a block away from the crash.
It is unclear whether the victims attended the event.
Portul was arrested on two charges: carjacking and hit-and-run with injury.
