Three individuals tragically lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries following a vehicle collision with a cyclist that subsequently crashed into a supermarket in Los Angeles. The devastating incident occurred on Thursday, February 5, around noon at a 99 Ranch Market in the Westwood neighborhood of the city. According to Lyndsey Lantz, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, three victims, some of whom were trapped under the vehicle, perished at the scene.
A report from the fire department revealed that four individuals were transported to hospitals, with two in serious condition and two with minor injuries. Additionally, two individuals declined medical transport against advice.
Authorities stated that the driver of a Toyota Prius lost control after striking the cyclist, then veered into the bakery section of the market. The driver, a woman who is cooperating with the investigation, is undergoing a medical evaluation. The condition of the cyclist is currently unknown.
Television news footage depicted a silver sedan fully inside the store on Westwood Boulevard, with a significant police and fire department presence and a triage area established outside the store to treat patients.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that police, fire officials, and the Mayor’s Office Crisis Response Team would remain at the scene. She expressed her condolences, saying, “My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and all affected by the tragic crash at the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood.”
The crash occurred near the University of California, Los Angeles campus, but none of the individuals involved were students at the university, according to Police Lt. Anthony Espinoza.
Details regarding the circumstances leading to the incident have not been disclosed, and an investigation into the cause is ongoing. The victims have not been identified, and no further information about their conditions has been released. The area around the store was temporarily secured while crews worked at the scene and investigators gathered evidence.
