Man loses control of car down Manhattan Beach Boulevard, injuring 5
The car finally came to a stop after hitting three boulders at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Photo
An elderly man lost control of his car Thursday night while driving down Manhattan Beach Boulevard in downtown Manhattan Beach, hitting two cars and five pedestrians.
Four of the pedestrians were taken to a hospital for mostly minor injuries, while one was listed to be in stable condition. The driver was not injured, said Manhattan Beach Police Lt. Christian Eichen.
At about 6:18 p.m., the car traveled down from the 400 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and collided with a car at the intersection of Highland Avenue. It then continued down the street, hitting another car before being stopped by the balustrades protecting the pier.
Lt. Eichen said he suspects the car had a mechanical failure or a brake malfunction.
Don Langley, a passerby who spoke with witnesses around the intersection of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Highland Avenue, said the driver of the car was obviously trying to stop his car, but to no avail.
“These people were telling me, it sounded like he was pushing on the brakes really hard,” Langley said.
Said Kathy Jackson, who witnessed the second collision from the balcony of a restaurant on Manhattan Avenue:, “It happened so fast. It was terrible.”