ENCINITAS, Calif. — A 28-year-old man was arrested on three counts of attempted murder Sunday after investigators say he drove a rented U-Haul van into a crowd of people outside an Encinitas bar in the early morning hours.
The incident happened in the 500 block of South Coast Highway 101 at about 1:20 a.m. The man, identified as Christian Davis, had reportedly been asked to leave The Saloon Bar because he was intoxicated just prior to the incident.
Investigators said Davis got into his rented U-Haul after leaving the bar and intentionally drove into several people on a sidewalk. Davis's van struck three people, according to Sgt. Agustin Rosas of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
One of the victims was taken to Palomar Medical Center with serious injuries. The other two victims were taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital, also suffering from serious injuries, Rosas said.
Two witnesses detained Davis until deputies arrived and received minor injuries, according to the sergeant. They were taken to Scripps Encinitas Hospital for treatment.
Davis was taken to the Vista Detention Facility. He faces four felony charges, three of attempted first-degree murder and one of attempted escape with force, according to inmate booking records. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.