The three young brothers who were kidnapped during a car chase that ended with the driver crashing the vehicle in Malibu have been released from the hospital.
The children, who are 2, 7 and 9 years old, were hospitalized for two days after suffering injuries in the crash. They were kidnapped on Friday when the family vehicle was carjacked outside a 7-Eleven in East Los Angeles. The vehicle’s engine was still running when a man jumped into the car while the boys’ mother was inside the store.
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“I feel calmer, more relaxed,” the mother, who wished to conceal her identity, said about having her children safe and home again.
The children’s father, who also wished to stay anonymous, said he tried to intervene after he saw the carjacking but unfortunately wasn’t able to stop it and was injured.
“It was hard seeing your kids being kidnapped and taken,” Katherine Tax, the mother’s cousin, translated for the father. “He said he tried to take them, to grab onto the car and hold on. He only saw when the car ignited, when it started up and the speed, it came so quickly and he did his best to grab onto the steering wheel to stop the car.”
The frightening pursuit came to an end after the driver crashed into another car in Malibu. The man then ditched the car and fled to a field near Portshead Road, but was ultimately arrested by police.
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Law enforcement has not released the name of the driver, nor have they detailed what charges he faces.
“I’m very grateful in my heart to everyone who’s been helping us and has donated to help us since I’m now without a car,” the mother said. “Thank you all for your support, thank you to those who called police and even followed the driver.”
Her partner echoed those sentiments.
“More than anything, we give our thanks to everyone who wants to help us,” the children’s father said. “Thank you for your support and most of all, with everything our family went through, we’re extremely grateful to everyone who helped us.”

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