Suspected DUI driver faces murder charges in North Hollywood crash that killed 3 women
Community mourns street vendors killed in NoHo crash
Ihor Demianenko, 61, was arrested on suspicion of DUI after crashing into pedestrians and vendor stands near the North Hollywood Metro station, killing three women and injuring two others.
LOS ANGELES - A suspected impaired driver faces potential murder charges after his minivan barreled onto a crowded sidewalk outside the North Hollywood Metro station during Tuesday evening rush hour, killing three women and critically injuring two others.
What we know:
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and police responded to the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards near the North Hollywood Arts District just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village was driving a white Toyota Sienna minivan south on Lankershim Boulevard at an unsafe speed when he attempted to pass another vehicle, lost control, and veered to the right. The minivan jumped protective barriers along the westbound sidewalk, struck a tri-light, and plowed directly through a blue tarp canopy sheltering sidewalk food stands and pedestrians, officials said.
Three women died at the scene. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and loved ones identified two of the victims as 73-year-old Maria Peck, originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, who sold sweets and sodas at the location for about eight years, and 57-year-old Teodora Villalobos, originally from Guatemala, known affectionately by locals as "Doris" or "the hot dog lady," who had sold food there for roughly 20 years.
(L-R) Teodora Villalobos and Maria Peck / FOX 11
Two other women in their 50s were rushed to the hospital, including Sylvia Figueroa, who family members say is in critical condition and fighting for her life.
Demianenko remained trapped inside his minivan with minor injuries until paramedics freed him, noting that he was speaking and appeared to be in shock.
Following treatment at Dignity Health - Northridge Hospital Medical Center, police determined he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and booked him Wednesday on suspicion of homicide at the LAPD's Valley Jail in Van Nuys, where he is being held in lieu of $6.03 million bail.
The intersection was closed for several hours before reopening Wednesday morning, and three memorials now line the sidewalk where commuters and neighbors have stopped to pray and pay their respects.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not yet publicly released the identity of the third woman killed in the crash, nor have officials provided a current condition update on the second hospitalized woman.
Prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office have not yet formally filed criminal charges beyond the initial booking, and an arraignment date has not been scheduled.
Additionally, investigators have not yet disclosed the vehicle's exact speed prior to impact or the specific substance suspected in Demianenko's alleged impairment.
Local perspective:
The deadly crash took place near the North Hollywood Arts District. The area is known for numerous food stands just outside the Metro station selling pastries and drinks to public transit commuters and nearby workers.
Adrin Nazarian, who represents parts of the San Fernando Valley in the Los Angeles City Council, arrived at the crash scene. He said the area is known for being very close knit.
"People are very, very friendly. They know each other," Council member Nazarian said. "This is the heart of North Hollywood area. This is The Arts District right here. So there's always people, there's always actors, there are always people going to restaurants, coming off of the terminus, the clear change of the red line for the orange line. So this is a constantly very active place. It's extremely concerning when you hear something like this happen."
Nazarian's office, in partnership with nonprofic ICON CDC, shared a joint GoFundMe page to raise money for the victims' families. Those looking to help can click here.
What they're saying:
Law enforcement officials described the collision as entirely preventable while outlining an exhaustive forensic review.
"Our investigators have the video. They'll run it down in slow motion and take it frame-by-frame to determine what happened," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell told reporters at the scene Tuesday night. "We'll be pulling all of the video that we can in the area, talking to the witnesses. They need to be interviewed. And it'll be probably a prolonged but a very deliberate investigation to determine what happened here. And our hearts go out to the families of the victims."
Elected officials also issued statements offering condolences to the families and the tightly-knit neighborhood.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated on X, "Today, an SUV drove onto a sidewalk near the North Hollywood Metro Station, striking a group of street vendors and pedestrians. Tragically, preliminary reports indicate that three people have lost their lives and others have been injured. First responders are on the scene, and my office is closely coordinating with city departments as authorities work to determine what caused this horrific incident. I'm heartbroken for the families of everyone impacted. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a Tuesday night statement, "I am stunned by the tragic loss of life in North Hollywood and my thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this devastating incident. My thoughts are also with those who were critically injured, and I am hoping for their recovery during this difficult time. I want to thank the first responders who rushed to the scene and provided emergency assistance. We need to understand exactly what happened and what led to this tragedy. I will be closely following the investigation and seeking additional information as the facts emerge."
What's next:
Detectives with the LAPD Valley Traffic Division are continuing to analyze recovered street surveillance footage frame-by-frame and interview witnesses to reconstruct the minivan's mechanics, speed, and trajectory before it jumped the curb.
Once investigators complete their findings, the case will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to determine formal criminal charges ahead of Demianenko's court arraignment.
The Source: This report is based on oficial statements and records provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department inmate records. Additional details and direct quotes were gathered from public statements by Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, on-the-ground reporting from the crash scene and sidewalk memorials. City News Service contributed.