A 61-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence was arrested on three counts of murder after his minivan struck pedestrians and a food vendor near a North Hollywood Metro station, killing three women and critically injuring two others, the Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday.
The LAPD identified the driver as Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village. Investigators determined he was under the influence after Tuesday evening’s fatal crash. His bail was set at $6.03 million, police said.
The collision occurred at about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday as Demianenko drove a white Toyota Sienna south on Lankershim Boulevard, just south of Chandler Boulevard, according to an LAPD news release.
Police identified Ihor Demianenko, 61, as the driver of a minivan that struck pedestrians and a food vendor near the North Hollywood Metro station Tuesday. (KTTV)
According to police, the minivan veered to the right at an unsafe speed, hit a food vendor and pedestrians near the sidewalk, then continued forward before becoming lodged inside a structure.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced three women dead at the scene. Police described the victims as Hispanic women between 40 and 60 years old. Their names were being withheld pending notification of their families.
Two additional women, both Hispanic and between 50 and 55 years old, were transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Three women died and two others were critically hurt after a minivan struck pedestrians and a food vendor in North Hollywood on Tuesday evening. (KTTV)
Demianenko sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment before police arrested him, authorities said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass offered condolences to the victims’ families after the crash.
“I’m heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted,” Bass said in a statement posted on X. “We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”
A minivan crashed near the North Hollywood Metro station in Los Angeles on Tuesday, killing three women. Police arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI and three counts of murder. (KTTV)
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said investigators would conduct a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the collision.
“It’ll be a prolonged but a very deliberate investigation to determine what happened here,” McDonnell told reporters. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims that were struck here tonight.”