Minivan crash near Metro station kills three in North Hollywood

Three people died when a minivan struck pedestrians outside a Los Angeles Metro station during the Tuesday evening rush hour. Authorities reported that the driver and at least two other individuals sustained critical injuries in the incident.

The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. at a busy intersection in North Hollywood. The minivan came to rest on the sidewalk beneath a food vendor's tent. Los Angeles Police Capt. Warner Castillo stated that the driver, a man in his 60s, was removed from the vehicle and could speak, though he appeared to be in shock.

Castillo indicated that investigators had not yet determined the cause of the collision. He noted that police did not yet know whether the driver acted intentionally or if the crash was an accident. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said investigators would review footage of the crash one frame at a time. He described the inquiry as a careful process that would likely take considerable time.

Luis Luna-Guzman, a worker at a nearby burger stand, heard a loud boom that drew his attention to the scene. He observed people lying on the ground among scattered food and cups. Approaching the station, he found an injured woman near the bicycle racks with blood on her face, arms, and legs. Luna-Guzman told her to remain still because help was coming.

He also saw a woman's body nearby and another woman lying motionless on the steps leading into the station. On Tuesday night, the minivan remained on the sidewalk amid debris. Its driver's door was open and an airbag had deployed. Emergency personnel and fire engines were stationed nearby while a helicopter flew above the scene.

Mayor Karen Bass stated that street vendors and pedestrians were among the victims. She expressed sorrow for the affected families in a post on X. City Council member Adrin Nazarian, whose district covers North Hollywood, described the neighborhood as close-knit and the location as consistently busy.

Jose Ubaldo, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, confirmed that one station entrance remained shut Tuesday night. He said the property was otherwise unaffected and that both the bus and subway stations remained open.