The incident occurred along Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, where a line of people, mostly women, were waiting to get into the Vermont Hollywood nightclub. The car, a Nissan Versa, collided with the crowd, a nearby taco truck, and a valet stand. At least 23 injured persons were taken to hospitals and trauma centres
The car that crashed into pedestrians in Hollywood is towed away on Saturday. PIC/AFP
A car ran into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub on a busy Los Angeles boulevard early on Saturday, injuring 30 people, news agency AP reported. The driver was subsequently attacked by bystanders, and authorities later discovered that he had been shot.
The incident occurred along Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, where a line of people, mostly women, were waiting to get into the Vermont Hollywood nightclub. The car, a Nissan Versa, collided with the crowd, a nearby taco truck, and a valet stand. At least 23 injured persons were taken to hospitals and trauma centres, with three of them in critical condition, the Los Angeles Fire Department informed.
Fire Captain Adam Van Gerpen stated that the majority of those affected were in line for the club, some also getting food from a taco cart when the vehicle struck.
“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were ... getting some food, waiting to go in. And there's also a valet line there. The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle,” he said.
Witnesses inside the nightclub rushed out to help as soon as the crash occurred, assisting the injured until emergency services arrived. The driver, whose gunshot wound was found by paramedics, was taken to a nearby hospital. His identity and current condition have not been disclosed by the authorities, AP reported. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is now looking for a suspected gunman who fled the scene.
The police spokesperson stated that it was still unclear whether the driver was shot before or after the crash, and the exact reason for the collision remained under investigation.
The shooter was described as a man in a blue jersey carrying a silver revolver. Van Gerpen confirmed that the incident is under probe by the LAPD, calling it “a large investigation.”
According to the club’s online calendar, Vermont Hollywood was hosting a reggae/hip-hop event from 10 pm to 2 am at the time of the incident. Despite attempts by AP for a comment on the incident, the club did not respond.
Maria Medrano, who was working at a food cart outside the venue, reported that a fight had broken out just prior to the crash. Describing the chaotic aftermath, she said, “Shortly after, the car hit a group of people standing outside. The car stopped once it hit the hot dog stand, it got stuck there. If not, I wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”
She also stated that she heard what sounded like gunshots after the crash and saw people running in panic.
“Everyone started running,” she said, reflecting on the terrifying ordeal.
(With AP inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
