Several hurt after wrong-way U-Haul truck crashes in Downtown LA

Three people were critically injured and at least five others were also hurt Sunday in a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Los Angeles, triggered by a wrong-way motorist in a U-Haul truck high on a combination of marijuana and cocaine, authorities said.

The driver was identified as Michael Maurice Wilson, 40, according to Officer Rosario Herrera of the LAPD's Media Relations Section.

Paramedics and firefighters were dispatched at 1:41 a.m. to the crash in the 700 block of Spring Street, where a hydrant was sheared and a light standard was toppled, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The crash was set in motion by Wilson in a U-haul truck going eastbound in the No. 1 westbound lane of Seventh Street, where he sideswiped another vehicle going into the intersection at Spring and Seventh streets, said Sgt. S. Bailey of the LAPD's Central Division.

He then struck a motorcyclist and a car that were trying to make a right turn at the intersection, Bailey said.

Wilson continued out of control and hit some pedestrians on the sidewalk. He also sheared a hydrant and topped a light standard, Bailey said, and was the lone occupant inside the U-Haul truck.

Wilson a Los Angeles resident, was taken into custody at the scene and arrested for felony drunken driving, the sergeant said.

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