A vehicle crashed into pedestrians and street vendors outside a North Hollywood Los Angeles Metro station during Tuesday evening rush hour, killing three people and critically injuring several others, officials said. The North Hollywood crash occurred at a busy intersection just before 6 p.m., according to ABC News US.
Police said the vehicle struck at least five pedestrians at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards at around 5:55 p.m., according to NBC News. The Los Angeles Fire Department said three people were dead at the scene and three others were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to NBC News.
LAPD Capt. Warner Castillo said the driver, a man in his 60s, was taken from the vehicle. He was able to talk but appeared to be in shock, according to ABC News US. Police did not believe any other vehicle was involved, according to Castillo, as reported by NBC News.
Mayor Karen Bass said the victims included street vendors and pedestrians, according to ABC News US. The vehicle ended up under a food vendor’s tent, according to ABC News US.
The two main outlets differ on the type of vehicle. ABC News US describes a minivan that ended up on the sidewalk under a food vendor’s tent. NBC News, citing police and aerial video, describes a white SUV that crashed into the side of the Metro station.
LA Metro spokesperson Jose Ubaldo said one entrance to the station remained closed Tuesday night, while bus and subway stations were open. Council member Adrin Nazarian described the North Hollywood area as a close-knit community that is always busy.
Officials said it was not immediately known whether the crash was intentional or accidental, and no motive has been reported. Police have not said how fast the vehicle was traveling, and the sources do not make clear the speed. Results of drug-recognition tests on the driver, which would show whether he was impaired, were not reported.
Neither source provided the names or ages of the people who died. Beyond the word "critical," the sources give no details on the condition of the injured.
Investigators will review crash video frame by frame, interview witnesses and check whether the driver was impaired. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the investigation will be prolonged.
The key details in this report come from ABC News US and NBC News, and several specifics rely on a single outlet. Readers should treat the vehicle description and the cause as unresolved until investigators release more information.
Sources
This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.