Fox 11 Reporter Thanks Fans From Hospital After Hollywood Crash

Los Angeles CA

21 March, 2021

2:20 PM

Description

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Longtime Fox 11 reporter Hal Eisner was among a crowd of people struck by a vehicle that jumped a curb and crashed through the Hollywood Market Liquor Store on Friday, according to multiple reports. Eisner thanked fans from Cedars-Sinai hospital Saturday night. Eisner — who's been a reporter in Los Angeles for more than 38 years — was injured along with four others when a suspected drunk driver crashed through a storefront. "As I lay here in a hospital bed at Cedars-Sinai I want to take a minute to say thank you, I love [you], you're amazing and I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be alive," he wrote on Facebook. Fox 11 photographer Joab Perez was with Eisner when they were struck by the vehicle along with three others. Eisner said they were conducting an interview in Hollywood for the state's 6 p.m. news segment before the collision. The two journalists had been working on a story about the famous El Capitan Theatre and Los Angeles County's partial reopening this week, which allows for movie theaters to open at limited capacity, according to FOX 11. Perez has been with the station for nearly three years. "Our [Fox LA] crew was among the injured in that Hollywood crash today near Hollywood and Highland," the station's Assistant News Director Pete Wilgoren tweeted. "We are a news FAMILY in this town...saying a big prayer for our team and the others injured in this crash..." Eisner said he had a gash on his right hand, a knee fracture and "serious and painful" back spasms. Photos on Facebook showed him wearing a leg brace and a handwrap. "But, I will get over this. One of the best meds has been your caring and outreach! Thank you for your love and support! Hugs!" The driver was arrested Friday in connection with driving under the influence, the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted. He told police he fell asleep at the wheel but failed field sobriety tests. Officials said he was driving while intoxicated when he drove an SUV the wrong way and ran off the road, LAPD Capt. Brian Wendling said. The crash occurred along the Walk of Fame near the well-known intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. UPDATE:The male driver of the vehicle has been placed under arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). https://t.co/tc1x6thdwl— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 19, 2021 All victims were taken to the hospital but LAPD Chief Michel Moore later confirmed that all were in stable condition. Two people who were injured were tourists from Washington, Moore said. One had severe injuries with broken ribs and a broken leg while the other had moderate injuries with lacerations and abrasions. "This incident points to continued threat DUI poses to our safety," Moore tweeted. The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.