A 61-year-old man was booked Wednesday on suspicion of homicide after he drove a white minivan into a crowd of street vendors and pedestrians at Metro’s North Hollywood station, killing three women and critically injuring two others.
Firefighters and paramedics arrived at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards regarding reports of a crash, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz.
Crews found three women who were beyond medical assistance and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two of three fatalities were later identified as Maria Peck, 73, and Teodora Villalobos, 57, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s website.
Two women in their 50s were rushed to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said the driver, identified as Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village, was also hospitalized, but was not in critical condition. He was talking when extricated from the vehicle and appeared to be in shock, according to police.
According to the LAPD, Demianenko was driving a Toyota Sienna south on Lankershim Boulevard, south of Chandler Boulevard “at an unsafe speed when it veered to the right, ran off the road and collided with a tri-light, hitting several pedestrians and food vendors who were on the sidewalk near the Metro station.”
“The force of the collision caused the pedestrians and private property to be thrown in different directions,” according to an LAPD statement. “The Toyota driver remained trapped inside his vehicle until paramedics and police arrived.”
Demianenko, whose injuries were described as minor, was found to be under the influence or drugs or alcohol, police said.
He was booked Wednesday at the LAPD’s Valley Jail in Van Nuys and was being held in lieu of $6.03 million bail, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate records.
An LAPD spokeswoman initially told City News Service the man was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he was taken to Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Multiple media reports indicated the vehicle jumped barriers that were in place to protect the pedestrians and street vendors who regularly gather on the sidewalk on the westbound side of the street.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell was at the scene Tuesday night.
“Our investigators have the video. They’ll run it down in slow motion and take it frame-by-frame to determine what happened,” he told reporters.
The intersection was closed for hours but was later re-opened Wednesday morning.
Kassandra Guzman told the Los Angeles Times she was sitting at her family’s smash burger stand across Lankershim when she saw the vehicle barreling down Lankershim and drive straight through the blue tarp where a number of food vendors usually set up.
The 12-year-old told The Times the vendors sell coffee, tamales, hot dogs and pastries. She said the people who were injured have been working there for years.
“I’m just glad it wasn’t my family, but it still hurts,” she said.
At least one of those killed was confirmed to be a vendor, according to a report from the scene.
“Today, an SUV drove onto a sidewalk near the North Hollywood Metro Station, striking a group of street vendors and pedestrians. Tragically, preliminary reports indicate that three people have lost their lives and others have been injured,” Mayor Karen Bass said Tuesday evening on X.
“First responders are on the scene, and my office is closely coordinating with city departments as authorities work to determine what caused this horrific incident. I’m heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued the following statement Tuesday night:
“I am stunned by the tragic loss of life in North Hollywood and my thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this devastating incident. My thoughts are also with those who were critically injured, and I am hoping for their recovery during this difficult time.
“I want to thank the first responders who rushed to the scene and provided emergency assistance. We need to understand exactly what happened and what led to this tragedy. I will be closely following the investigation and seeking additional information as the facts emerge.”
City Councilman Adrin Nazarian and the nonprofit organization Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation (ICON CDC) established a GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims.
“The North Hollywood community has been deeply shaken by the tragic vehicle crash near the Metro subway station that claimed the lives of three sidewalk vendors and injured others,” the page states. “Behind each victim is a family now facing unimaginable grief, uncertainty, and financial hardship.
“Contributions will help ease immediate financial hardships and other urgent family needs.”
The page had raised more than $8,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
The fundraiser is at www.gofundme.com/f/noho-metro-station- victims-relief-fund.
Anyone with information about the crash was urged to contact LAPD Valley Traffic Division Detective Reyes at 818-644-8114 or Officer Lozon at 818- 644-8117.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call CrimeStoppers at 800-222-TIPS.