Employee leapt out of stolen trailer during wild pursuit that ended in crash

Details are emerging in the wild multi-county chase that ended with a crash in North Hollywood Monday night, including that the coffee trailer being towed behind the stolen truck contained an employee who leapt out and was injured in the process.

The truck and trailer were stolen out of Ventura County Tuesday night and spotted in the San Fernando Valley, where the Los Angeles Police Department gave chase.

About a quarter mile into the pursuit, an employee who was in the trailer when it was stolen jumped out. That employee is hospitalized with minor bruises and cuts, Matt’s Coffee Express owner Matt Schieltz told KTLA’s Carlos Herrera.

Police ultimately took the driver into custody after the truck crashed into the Heartfelt Education through the Arts Center near Tujunga Avenue and Chandler Boulevard; the trailer was flipped over in the collision.

After about a 30-minute search, the driver was found, police said. Their identity has not been released.

The $100,000 coffee cart sustained major damage, Schieltz said. A GoFundme has been organized to help with the cost of repairs.

Do donate to the arts center, click here .

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