Driver booked on murder charges after deadly North Hollywood pedestrian crash

Authorities arrested a 61-year-old driver on suspicion of murder following a crash that killed three pedestrians in North Hollywood on Tuesday evening. According to UPI and KTLA, the driver faces three counts of murder. The Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspect as Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village, UPI reported. The crash occurred around 5:55 p.m. local time near Lankershim Boulevard. [1][2][6]

UPI reported that police said a white Toyota Sienna minivan was traveling at an unsafe speed when it veered off the road, hit a traffic signal, and struck street vendors and pedestrians. The New York Post described the vehicle as an SUV, while the Washington Examiner and ABC7 Los Angeles reported that a car struck people outside a food stand near a bus stop. [1][3][6][8]

The Los Angeles Fire Department stated that three people died at the scene and three others were transported to a hospital in critical condition, according to the Washington Examiner. The New York Post identified two of the deceased vendors as Maria Peck and 57-year-old Teodora Villalobos, adding that a third victim had not been publicly identified as of Wednesday afternoon. [3][6]

North Hollywood is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. As FTMQ News reported earlier, emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department were dispatched to the crash scene near the Metro station, which serves as the northern terminus for the B Line subway. [12][13]

UPI reported that bail for the suspect was set at $6.03 million after he was booked on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence. [1][2]