A man stole an Amazon delivery van in the Mid-City neighborhood of Los Angeles and subsequently crashed it into at least three parked cars, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The incident occurred early Friday morning, around 7:30 a.m., when the delivery driver, Gabriel Tapia, momentarily stepped out of the van to deliver a package on W. 21st Street near S. Longwood Avenue, and within seconds, a thief commandeered the vehicle and shortly after collided with the parked cars.
Jorge Granera, one of the car owners affected by the crash, expressed his dismay to NBC Los Angeles, saying, "I heard the sound. I saw the guy who stole the truck." Granera commented on his attachment to his job and the impact of the incident on his livelihood, stating, "I never missed a day, and I love my job. Now this happened. You get the van stolen, then you get termination.' It sucks because I have a family. I don't know what's going to happen next." Another victim, Tallie LaFleur, discovered her vehicle had been damaged after her son noticed it following a loud crash, mentioning that the sunroof was partially open following the impact.
Although the driver was concerned for his safety during the theft, according to an NBC Los Angeles interview with Tapia, he ran after the van and arrived to find the aftermath of the collision with several parked cars. No one was injured during the ordeal, which left several residents grappling with the damage to their vehicles and the implications for their daily lives, but grateful that it wasn't worse.
Residents described the crash's disruption to their Thanksgiving weekend. A victim said, "Last night, I had my family over. We were doing prayers, talking about small blessings that come your way. This happens, but it's okay." While Matthew Vanek, a family member of another victim, argued that the pressure on delivery workers should not be ignored and acknowledged Tapia's tight schedule, LaFleur, also told FOX 11, she was grateful for the absence of injuries, despite the extensive damage to her car.
Amazon has stated that it prioritizes the safety of delivery drivers, but as of the reports, it has not been made clear if Tapia's position will be affected following the incident. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that they are still searching for the suspect, and the stolen delivery van has been recovered as part of the investigation into the carjacking and subsequent collisions.
