LOS ANGELES: At least 30 people were injured early on Saturday when a car ploughed into a crowd outside a nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).
Authorities say the driver was later found to have been shot, prompting a large-scale police investigation into the incident.
The crash occurred just before 2:00am local time, as a large group of people—mostly women—were standing in line to enter the Vermont Hollywood nightclub.
A nearby taco cart and valet stand were also struck as the vehicle, identified as a Nissan Versa, veered off the road and into the crowd.
“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub,” said LAFD Captain Adam Van Gerpen.
“There was a taco cart out there, so they were getting some food, 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.”
At least 23 people were transported to local hospitals and trauma centres, with seven in critical condition and six others seriously injured, the LAFD said in an online statement. The remaining victims sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
According to ABC News, a paramedic assessing the injured said that the driver had suffered a gunshot wound. It remains unclear whether the man was shot before or after the crash. Police confirmed he was taken to hospital but did not disclose his identity or condition.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said officers responded to a radio call about an assault with a deadly weapon and found that the driver had been attacked by bystanders after the crash.
A man suspected of shooting the driver fled the scene on foot and may be armed with a silver revolver, police said.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), LAPD said the motive behind the crash is still under investigation.
“It is not immediately clear if the driver was targeted, or if the collision was intentional or accidental,” a police spokesperson told the Associated Press.
Eyewitness Maria Medrano, who was working at a food cart nearby, described the moment of chaos. “Shortly after a fight broke out, 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 told local media.
She also reported hearing what sounded like gunshots after the crash and seeing people running in panic. “Everyone started running,” she said, visibly shaken.
Videos posted on social media showed emergency responders sealing off the area, with multiple ambulances taking victims to hospitals.
