On Tuesday night, just before 6 p.m., a white SUV struck pedestrians at the busy intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards in North Hollywood, a location known for its bustling sidewalk vendors. According to NBC Los Angeles, the crash occurred during rush hour and left three street vendors dead at the scene while two additional women were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The victims who have been identified include 57‑year‑old Teodora Villalobos, a mother of three from El Salvador, and Maria Peck, a mother of five. The identity of the third deceased vendor has not been released. Witnesses told NBC Los Angeles that the driver, identified as 61‑year‑old Ihor Demianenko, was speeding and maneuvered around another car before losing control, sending the vehicle into the crowd of vendors.
Law enforcement arrested Demianenko on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence at double the legal limit. He was booked on three counts of murder, and his bail was set at $6 million. LAPD Capt. Warner Castillo said, “We don’t know if (the crash) was deliberate, but he’s at the hospital now, and that’s why we have our experts right now testing the driver of the vehicle.” Castillo added that the driver appeared to be in shock when first responders extracted him from the vehicle.
Chief Jim McDonnell announced a “prolonged but very deliberate investigation,” stating that investigators will pull all available video from the area and interview witnesses. Mayor Karen Bass released a statement saying the crash involved “a group of street vendors and pedestrians” and expressed that she is “heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted.” She noted that city departments are coordinating with authorities as they determine the cause of the incident.
Community members described the vendors as long‑standing fixtures of the neighborhood. One witness, identified only as Steve, said a vendor “was a fixture of this neighborhood” and expressed devastation for her family. Another resident, Fran Shelia Straughter, said, “All of the vendors in LA are friendly people, but this lady was right here for years, years, a decade, years. There’s going to be a hole right here for anybody that’s just in the community regularly.”
Fire officials confirmed that three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while paramedics transported at least three additional patients, including the driver, to a Northridge hospital in critical condition.
What’s next: The LAPD will continue reviewing video evidence and interviewing witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation. Demianenko remains in custody awaiting a court hearing on his $6 million bail. City officials have pledged to keep the public informed as more details emerge.
Sources: nbclosangeles.com
