Local

Carjacker drives away with victim holding onto vehicle, crashes into Orlando church

ORLANDO, Fla. — A carjacker drove away from a convenience store Wednesday afternoon and crashed into a church, the Orlando Police Department said.

The carjacking happened at the Peace Food Store at South Tampa Avenue and Orange Center Boulevard, Orlando police Lt. Jacqueline Howard said.

"The victim attempted to thwart the theft by grabbing the passenger side door and mirror," she said. "The suspect fled the area with the victim hanging onto the outside of the vehicle, traveling west on Orange Center Boulevard."

Investigators said the carjacker lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the Washington Shores Church of Christ before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with moderate, non-life-threatening foot injuries, Howard said.

Church secretary Sherell Crapps said the car crashed into the church at about 5:30 p.m.

"I saw this car come through here," she said. "I come around the building, and I see the car embedded in our building."

The man scaled a fence, which surrounds a building that housed almost 20 children who were attending a summer camp, Crapps said.

"One of the young ladies over at the other church was saying something about the guy bailed and he ran," she said. "I didn't know whether the car was coming around the parking lot or what was going on."

The carjacker remains at large.

The incident remains under investigation.

No other details were given.