Driver arrested on murder charges in Los Angeles crash that killed 3 women
A driver has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a minivan struck pedestrians and street vendors on a Los Angeles sidewalk, killing three women and critically injuring two others, according to police. Authorities determined that the driver was under the influence.
The crash happened at about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday at 5350 North Lankershim Boulevard, just south of Chandler Boulevard in North Hollywood.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) identified the driver Wednesday as Ihor Demianenko, 61, of Valley Village. He was arrested on suspicion of three counts of murder, and his bail was set at $6 million.
Police said the white Toyota Sienna was traveling south at an unsafe speed when it veered to the right, left the road and hit a traffic signal. It struck pedestrians and food vendors on the west sidewalk near the Metro station.
A fire department battalion chief came across the crash shortly before 6 p.m. One witness told KNBC that two women selling hot dogs were thrown into the air by the impact.
Paramedics pronounced three women dead at the scene. Police described them as Hispanic and between 40 and 60 years old. Their names have not been released pending notification of their families.
Two other women, both Hispanic and between 50 and 55 years old, were taken to Northridge Hospital in critical condition.
Firefighters freed the driver from the minivan, and he was taken to a hospital. Police initially described his condition as serious but said Wednesday that his injuries were minor. The LAPD did not specify what substance investigators believe impaired him.
