The crash occurred shortly before 5:55 p.m. at the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards.
North Hollywood, CA – Authorities have identified two of the three women killed when a minivan struck street vendors and pedestrians near the North Hollywood Metro station Tuesday evening.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the deceased women as Maria Peck, 73, and Teodora Villalobos, 57. The third woman, whose age was previously reported as 40, has not yet been identified. Two other women were critically injured in the collision
The crash occurred shortly before 5:55 p.m. at the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards.
A Toyota Sienna minivan, operated by 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village, was traveling south on Lankershim Boulevard when it veered off the roadway at an unsafe speed, struck a traffic signal structure and hit several pedestrians and food vendors on the sidewalk, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Three women, including Peck and Villalobos, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other women in their 50s were taken to a hospital with critical injuries.
Demianenko was also hospitalized with minor injuries. Police said Demianenko was found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He was booked Wednesday on suspicion of homicide and was being held on $6.03 million bail. He faces allegations connected to the deaths of the three women.
The crash remains under investigation.