Driver flees police, hits cyclist, crashes into Venice restaurant

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A man who allegedly fled from police in his pickup truck, struck a bicyclist and later crashed into a Venice restaurant will be arrested on suspicion of felony evading, authorities said Monday.

The driver of the pickup truck was allegedly driving ‘super fast’ and the wrong way down a one-way street about 8:30 p.m. Sunday when police tried to pull him over and he kept going, authorities said.

‘They go in pursuit because he doesn’t yield,’ said a Los Angeles Police Department watch commander with the Pacific Community Police Station. ‘Driver then hits a bicyclist, then loses it.’

The driver could be charged by prosecutors on other counts.

The driver and the bicyclist were both taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the watch commander said.

After allegedly hitting the bicyclist, the driver then crashed into Wurstküche, a restaurant specializing in sausages, in the 600 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Venice.

A manager at the restaurant on Monday did not give many details about the extent of the damage except to confirm the accident and say one customer received minor, non-life-threatening injuries.

The manager said the front area of the restaurant will remain open Monday for to-go orders and small groups.

The restaurant has other locations, according to its website, but will still be partially open on Lincoln Boulevard for those who need their fix of a ‘crocodile & pork, andouille,’ ‘mango jalapeño,’ or sausages made of ‘rattlesnake & rabbit with jalapeño peppers.’

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-- Ari Bloomekatz