Three people were killed and multiple others were injured after a car driven by a woman in her 70s hit a cyclist on Westwood Boulevard and then crashed into the 99 Ranch Market in Los Angeles just after noon on Feb. 5. The three victims—aged 42, 55 and 30—were inside the store's bakery. Officials say the collision appears accidental and are investigating whether a medical issue or other factor caused the driver to lose control. Mayor Karen Bass thanked first responders and urged residents to avoid the area while the probe continues.
Three Killed After Car Plows Into Westwood’s 99 Ranch Market; Cyclist Struck Moments Earlier
LAFD vehicles are seen responding after a car plowed into a Los Angeles grocery store.KTLA 5/YouTube
Three people were killed and several others were injured after a car driven by a woman in her 70s crashed into the 99 Ranch Market on Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles shortly after 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5.
What Happened
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and local news reports, the driver struck a cyclist about one block from the market before continuing into the store. LAFD spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz said some people were initially trapped beneath the vehicle and were freed by first responders.
Authorities said the three people who died were inside the market's bakery area when the vehicle struck the building. The deceased have not been publicly named; officials identified them by age as a 42-year-old woman, a 55-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, per ABC7.
Injuries, Response, And Investigation
Fire Capt. Erik Scott told KTLA that two additional people sustained serious injuries and two suffered minor injuries. Two others at the scene declined treatment, including the cyclist who had been struck prior to the car entering the store. Lantz noted it was not immediately clear whether all injuries occurred inside the store or outside.
Los Angeles Police Department investigators were at the scene working to determine the sequence of events and whether a medical emergency or another factor caused the driver to lose control. Fire Capt. Scott said the crash "does not seem to be an intentional act" and is being investigated as an accidental traffic collision.
The city's Department of Building and Safety also responded to inspect the market; initial reports indicate the vehicle primarily damaged storefront windows rather than causing a major structural collapse.
Officials' Statements
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted that LAFD and LAPD remained on site and that her Mayor’s Office Crisis Response team would provide support and resources to those affected. She asked Angelenos to avoid the area while the investigation continues and thanked first responders for their immediate actions.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together exactly what led to the crash.
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