A 60-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI 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, police said Wednesday.
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. Their names were being withheld pending notification of relatives.
Two women in their 50s were taken to a hospital in unknown condition, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said the driver was one of those hospitalized, but was not in critical condition. They said the man was talking when extricated from the vehicle and “appeared to be in shock.”
An LAPD spokeswoman later told City News Service that the man was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he was taken to Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Multiple media reports said the vehicle was traveling south on Lankershim when it jumped the barriers that are in place to protect the pedestrians and street vendors who regularly gather on the sidewalk on the westbound side of the street. Reports indicated that some of the victims were street vendors.
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 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.
“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.”