EVERETT, Wash. - A large fight outside a North Everett restaurant early Sunday escalated into a hit-and-run when a man stole a customer's car and struck several people while speeding away, Everett police said, according to FOX 13 Seattle.
The brawl broke out around 2 a.m. near 23rd Street and Broadway, in the back parking area of El Muchacho Alegre II. A witness who asked not to be named told FOX 13 he drove by after a late-night fast food run and saw two groups of people fighting, with some held against vehicles and punches flying, then called 911.
Everett police said that at some point during the fight, a man stole a customer's car from the parking lot and sped off, hitting several people on the way out. The suspect then collided with another car about a block away and ran from the vehicle, police said.
Four people were taken to the hospital, some with significant injuries. Officers used a police dog to try to track the driver but did not find him, and detectives with the Everett Police Traffic Safety Unit are investigating.
Neighbors told FOX 13 the stretch of Broadway sees regular police patrols. "That whole half a block of Broadway gets watched all the time," said Ron Hansen, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 10 years.
One witness reported hearing two gunshots in the area around the time of the fight, though it remains unclear whether they were related to the brawl. Anyone with information is asked to call the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450.