Teen Driver Crashes into Van Nuys Bagel Shop, Nearly Hits LAPD Officers

Close Call for LAPD Officers

• 🚨 Two LAPD officers narrowly avoided being struck by a speeding pickup truck while on a coffee break.
• ⚠️ The truck, driven by an 18-year-old, jumped the curb and barreled towards the officers outside Western Bagel.
• 🩹 One officer was reportedly clipped by the vehicle and fell to the ground, but thankfully both officers were okay.

Damage to Western Bagel

• 💥 The pickup truck crashed directly into the bathrooms of the iconic bagel shop, causing significant damage.
• 🔌 The incident resulted in a busted water line and a power outage, forcing the 24-hour business to temporarily shut down.
• ✅ The general manager expressed relief that no one was injured, stating that the damage to the building is fixable.

Arrests and Suspected Cause

• 🚗 The 18-year-old driver, along with three teenage passengers (ages 16 and 17), were in the truck.
• ⚖️ The driver was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.
• 💨 The three passengers were cited for curfew violations and released to their parents.
• 👃 Law enforcement sources suspect the teen driver may have been under the influence of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), with witnesses reporting paraphernalia associated with its use in the truck.

Aftermath and Reopening

• 🛠️ Repairs are underway at the bagel shop, and power has been restored.
• ⏰ Western Bagel has reopened for business after being closed for several hours.