LOS ANGELES — The driver accused of crashing into pedestrians outside the Metro station in North Hollywood, killing three women and injuring two others, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police confirmed Wednesday.
The deadly collision occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday near the station on North Lankershim Boulevard, close to Chandler Boulevard.
The driver, identified as 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko, was traveling south on Lankershim Boulevard in a white SUV when he struck pedestrians and street vendors in the area.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the crash. Three women were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Their names have not been released, but police said they were 40, 53 and 69 years old.
Witnesses told ABC LA that at least two of the victims were food vendors who had worked outside the Metro station for years.
Two other people struck in the crash remained hospitalized Wednesday with injuries that were not specified.
The LAPD said Demianenko had to be removed from the vehicle. He was conscious but appeared to be in shock, and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was later arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and is being held on more than $6 million bail.
Aerial footage showed a wide debris field surrounding the crash site, along with several fire trucks responding to the scene.
Video recorded by witnesses captured the panic that followed, as people screamed for help and motionless victims lay scattered across the sidewalk.
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Gian Barbarona said he narrowly avoided the vehicle. Speaking to Eyewitness News, he recalled, “I felt the wind of the whoosh, of the wind, on my left shoulder.”
“I initially thought that the car went into the station. That’s how bad it was visually.”
As the scene descended into chaos, bystanders called 911 while Metro passengers continued emerging from underground into the aftermath of the violent crash.
Noe Orozco arrived at the debris-strewn scene and discovered that one of his colleagues, a beloved food vendor, had died on the sidewalk. Fighting back tears, Orozco told Eyewitness News that he worked with the victims, dropping them off each morning and picking them up later. He said he had just arrived to pick them up as usual when he encountered the crash scene.
The mass-casualty crash in the center of a densely populated area drew Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell to the scene.
“Investigators have the video. They’ll run it down and slow motion it and take it frame-by-frame to determine what happened,” McDonnell said.
Following the crash, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement on social media:
“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. 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.”
No additional details were immediately available. The investigation remains ongoing.
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