Several injured when motorist crashes into pedestrians in downtown L.A.

The driver of a U-Haul truck veered onto a downtown sidewalk early Sunday, hitting two vehicles and injuring 10 people at a Los Angeles intersection teeming with Halloween revelers, police said.

The driver was going the wrong way down 7th Street at about 12:45 a.m. when he crashed his vehicle at the intersection of 7th and Spring streets, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Kevin Custard said.

Witnesses helped police quickly identify Michael Maurice Wilson, 40, as the driver, Custard said. They reported that they saw the driver leave the vehicle, apparently uninjured, and walk toward Main Street, he said.

Wilson admitted to being under the influence of marijuana, Custard said, and authorities found an “additional substance” in his pocket. They took a blood sample from Wilson to determine if he had ingested this substance as well, he said.

Wilson, who was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, was traveling alone and the U-Haul truck was empty and did not appear to be stolen, Custard said.

“He told police he was going to the store and didn’t remember much about the crash,” Custard said.

A total of 10 people were injured, including a motorcyclist, four passengers in a car that was struck and five pedestrians. Two of the pedestrians and the motorcyclist are still in the hospital being treated for their injuries, but “at this point, it seems like nothing serious,” Custard said.

The others were treated and released, he said.

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