Three people have died after an SUV crashed into a food stand near a Metro bus stop in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, police said.
The collision happened at about 5.55pm on Tuesday near the station at the junction of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards. Three other people were taken to hospital, with two initially described as being in a critical condition.
One of those critically injured was later listed as stable, while the other remained in a critical condition. Firefighters said the driver had to be freed from the wreckage.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the victims as Teodora Villalobos, 57, Maria Peck, 73, and Francesca Krystine Esker, 39.
Witnesses said the three women were street vendors who worked in the area. One of them had reportedly been selling food there for more than 15 years.
Driver arrested after North Hollywood food stand crash
Police identified the driver of the white SUV as Ihor Demianenko, 61, from Valley Village. Officers said he was seriously injured and had been determined to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Demianenko was arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder and is being held on bail of more than $6 million. The allegations have not been tested in court.
Investigators said Demianenko had been attempting to avoid another car that was travelling “legally and safely” before the crash. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Collision Investigation Team and Valley Traffic Division are continuing to examine what happened.
Detectives are seeking security camera footage from the Metro station and nearby businesses. Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the investigation would be “prolonged but a very deliberate” process.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass said she was “heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted” and that officials would provide further updates.
Community remembers three women
A memorial grew at the crash site as friends, relatives and regular customers paid tribute to the women. Two of the victims were known locally as Teodora, who was fondly called Doris, and Maria.
Doris’s daughter, Melissa Villalobos, said her mother had been selfless, independent and hardworking.
“There are no words to express the absence that she’s gonna have over my life,” she said. “Every goal, everything that I do is gonna be for her. Everything that I achieve will be for her, because of every sacrifice that she has done for me.”
She added: “She never neglected to give someone food, never neglected to give a bottle of water. I am grateful of that time that I had her for.”
Laduke Warwick, who said he had first met Doris when he was homeless, recalled her giving him a bacon-wrapped hot dog and a drink. He said the women were “such amazing people” and that he could not believe they had died.
Street photographer Jeff Wilson described Doris as an “anchor” of the community, saying she had remained at the location before, during and after the Covid pandemic and had always helped people.
Mike Sandoval, a regular customer, said the women had been present every day and were always willing to help people passing through the area.
Los Angeles City Councilman Adrin Nazarian has partnered with the non-profit organisation ICON CDC to raise money for the families of the three victims.
