Teen carjacker rams Camry into McDonald’s line, injures 8 in LA

A California teen said he was “launched” 20 feet and nearly killed when a carjacker plowed a stolen Camry into a line of cars waiting at a McDonald’s drive-thru on Tuesday evening, injuring seven other people.

The crash happened around 6 p.m. on Imperial Highway in South Gate, a working-class city southeast of Los Angeles. Police said the driver, later identified as 20-year-old Jonathan Martinez, had stolen the Camry earlier the same day in nearby Bell Gardens. Surveillance video showed Martinez speed toward the drive-thru queue, smashing into at least four cars before jumping the curb and stopping near the restaurant’s outdoor seating. Officers arrested Martinez minutes later without further incident.

The teen driver, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters he was waiting in line when he saw the Camry accelerate. “I barely had time to react,” he said. “I got hit from behind and flew forward—it felt like I was launched.” Medical records showed he suffered a broken collarbone, bruised ribs, and a concussion. The other injured people ranged in age from 12 to 58; four were treated at the scene and released, while three were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Police confirmed the Camry had been reported stolen hours earlier after the owner reported it missing following a street robbery nearby.

Authorities are still piecing together Martinez’s motives. Initial reports suggest he was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crash. The incident has reignited debates in the community about drive-thru safety and the growing problem of carjackings in the Los Angeles area. Police are reviewing dash-cam and surveillance footage to determine whether Martinez targeted the McDonald’s drive-thru specifically. The teen driver said he is grateful to be alive but is now hesitant to return to the same restaurant. “I just keep thinking about how lucky I am,” he said.