At least 30 people were injured, three critically, when a car drove into a crowd waiting outside a nightclub in East Hollywood in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Santa Monica Boulevard outside a nightclub. Emergency officials say the vehicle, a Nissan Versa, veered off the road, striking a line of people who were waiting to enter the venue. The car also hit a taco truck and a valet stand positioned near the queue.
According to Captain Adam Van Gerpen of the Los Angeles Fire Department, most of the people in line were women. Victims were transported to local hospitals and trauma centres with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Firefighters confirmed that at least three individuals remain in a critical condition.
Paramedics attending the scene discovered that one of the victims had sustained a gunshot wound. It is not yet clear whether the shooting occurred before or during the collision. Authorities have not released further details on the identity or condition of that individual.
“This is under police investigation,” said Van Gerpen. “This will be a large investigation with the LAPD.” He noted that people from inside the nightclub rushed out to assist the injured before emergency crews arrived.
“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub,” Van Gerpen added. “There was a taco cart out there, people getting some food and waiting to go in. The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.”
LAPD officers have secured the scene and are currently interviewing witnesses. No arrests have been made, and the motive behind the incident remains unclear. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the crash was intentional or accidental.
