A man who was kicked off a Southern California elementary school campus drove a car onto a curb and hit three children, police said Monday.
Santa Ana police said the children were taken to hospital in stable condition and Jason Guzman, 26, of Valencia, was arrested.
Police said four fire extinguishers were found in the man’s car.
The man had entered Taft Elementary School, apparently asking to use a restroom, and was taken out of the campus around 8 a.m., police said.
After a while, the man walked a few blocks from the school, hitting three children who were on their way to school, officials said.
The car continued to roll over and hit a parked car before police took the driver into custody, Sgt. Maria Lopez said.
Lopez said the driver sustained a stab wound himself and was taken for treatment.
Isaias Vazquez, who lives nearby, rushed to help the children.
“Just lying motionless in the middle of a road,” Vazquez told KTLA-TV. “As soon as I walk up to them, the parents… just distraught, screaming, and I see a man walking towards us with a knife in his hand, so I immediately called the police.”
Vazquez said the driver, who appeared distracted, then turned around and headed back to the car, where he left the knife.
“The two kids were fine, just in shock,” Vazquez said. “And then after a while, the one who was lying on the road regained consciousness, she was moving, thankfully, and was better but in great pain.”
The school was closed for three hours while police searched the school to make sure it was safe. Classes resumed, officials said.
Lopez said investigators would try to find out whether the driver intended to kill the children and whether he had any links to the school.
