A 61-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence has been arrested on three counts of murder after his minivan struck pedestrians and a food vendor near a North Hollywood Metro station. Three women died, and two others were critically injured, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.
Police identified the driver as Ihor Demianenko, of Valley Village. Investigators believe he was impaired during Tuesday evening’s crash. His bail was set at $6.03 million.
The collision happened at about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday. Demianenko was driving a white Toyota Sienna south on Lankershim Boulevard, just south of Chandler Boulevard, when the minivan veered right at an unsafe speed, police said. It hit a food vendor and pedestrians near the sidewalk, then continued moving before becoming lodged inside a building.
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 while their families are notified.
Two other women, both Hispanic and between 50 and 55, were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Demianenko suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital before being arrested, police said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
“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.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said investigators would carefully examine what led to the crash.
“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.”
The LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division is investigating. Anyone with information can contact investigators at 818-644-8114 or 818-644-8117.
