8 Injured After U-Haul Truck Crashes Into Crowded Sidewalk In Downtown LA

Eight people were injured after a suspected DUI driver crashed a U-Haul truck into a crowded sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles early Sunday morning, officials said. 

The crash was reported just after 1:40 a.m. at the intersection of Spring Street and 7th Street, Los Angeles City Fire Department's Brian Humphrey said.

"I was just walking up the street and I just saw the U-Haul go out of control ," said Philip Moore, a witness. "I heard three bangs and I guess he hit the motorcycle and the car, the light pole and the fire hyndrant."

The driver was identified as 40-year-old Michael Maurice Wilson, according to LAPD's Central Traffic Division.

A U-Haul truck was traveling the wrong way, going eastbound on 7th Street in the westbound lanes, Los Angeles Police Department officials said. 

The truck hit a parked vehicle before losing control and colliding with a motorcyclist and a sedan that was traveling southbound on Spring Street about to head westbound onto 7th Street, LAPD said.

The U-Haul spun out of control, jumped a curb and struck pedestrians on a sidewalk before shearing a fire hydrant and a light pole. 

Authorities confirmed there was a total of eight adult patients; three of whom were transported with critical injuries and five others with "lesser injuries."

Wilson told police he smoked marijuana before the crash. Investigators also found cocaine inside the U-Haul truck.

Wilson was taken into custody at the scene and was booked for felony DUI, LAPD said.

NBC4's Rick Montanez contributed to this report.

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