Motorcyclist injured after being struck in Burbank parking lot

A 22-year-old man required surgery after being struck and thrown from his moped at a Fresh and Easy parking lot in Burbank last night.

At about 9 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle being driven by Danny Jesus Garcia allegedly collided with a moped in the grocery store’s parking lot at Sparks Street and Verdugo Avenue, Sgt. Darin Ryburn said.

“A woman was pulling into the Fresh and Easy lot and a moped went past her,” Ryburn said. “The suspect’s vehicle pulls in front of the moped, and the moped driver is ejected and goes over the hood of the vehicle.”

Ryburn said the 22-year-old victim, Anthony Simile of Los Angeles, suffered a fracture to his top right thigh bone.

Garcia, 41, fled the scene, parked his car a short distance away and was found near the driveway of a house, Ryburn said.

“Police shined the light on the car and there was no one in there,” Ryburn said. “The suspect was walking toward the officer and said, ‘That’s my car.’”

Methamphetamines were found in Garcia’s pocket, and he was arrested for suspicion of possession of methamphetamines and felony hit and run, Ryburn said.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News

Twitter: @mariahsin