9 injured when truck veers off road, crashes onto sidewalk in Westlake

WESTLAKE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Nine people were injured when the driver of a pickup truck jumped a curb, sending the vehicle crashing onto a sidewalk in Westlake, police say.

It happened Saturday shortly after 8:30 a.m.at the corner of Alvarado Street and Wilshire Boulevard.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the driver of a black 2001 Ford F-150 was heading westbound on Wilshire Boulevard and somehow lost control and veered off the road, and onto the sidewalk crashing into several street vendor stands and pedestrians.

Police initially said the driver told them he suddenly thought someone was pointing a gun at him. That's when the driver lost control of the truck and jumped onto the sidewalk. However, LAPD later said that no firearm was ever seen.

Initial reports indicated multiple people had been hit. Firefighters and paramedics arrived and immediately began treating the victims.

The driver, passenger and all the pedestrians hit suffered minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"The driver, passenger, one male pedestrian, three female pedestrians, a female 8-year-old child, and a male 8-year-old child were transported for precautionary reasons to local hospitals," the LAPD said in a statement Saturday afternoon. "Two male adults and one female adult refused any additional medical treatment."

"Thankfully, there was no major injuries, just complaints of some bumps and bruises," said Central Traffic Sgt. Robert Leary.

The driver wasn't impaired and was not arrested, according to police.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Detective Juan Campos at (213) 833-3713 or email at 31480@lapd.online. Additionally, you can call the Central Traffic Division Watch Commander during non-business hours at (213) 833-3746 or (877) 527-3247. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477/