A minivan plowed through a crowd of bystanders in Los Angeles over the weekend. The crash hurt nine people, including several children.
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According to a report by ABC, the incident took place in the Downtown area in the afternoon around 3 PM. The Los Angeles Fire Department assessed nine people for injury after the crash. Emergency Services transported four adults to the hospital, but two others refused treatment. Two children aged 8 and 11 and one 17-year-old teenager also required treatment in hospital. Everyone injured is reportedly in stable condition.
The Fire Department reportedly said that after the incident, the van was "static under a collapsed patio."
LA Times says the minivan collided with an open-air market in the Fashion District. It remains unclear if the driver was hurt in the crash. However, the LAPD says no drugs or alcohol were involved.
Authorities Do Not Believe The Minivan Crash Was Intentional
Per ABC, the LAPD does not believe the accident was intentional or that the driver had any criminal intent. It remains unclear what caused the accident, although police reportedly told the outlet that the minivan driver 'swerved to avoid a stopped car' and hit a nearby barrier.
The LAPD also posted several images of the crash on X. One picture shows the vehicle with a dented bonnet and a collapsed red awning on top. It's unclear if there is any structural damage to the shops on the busy street, but the images suggest that the minivan didn't make it that far once it hit the pavement. Police also told KTLA the driver was not under arrest.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities, although that wasn't the case when a car collided with a crowd in Germany just last month. An unidentified 40-year-old man reportedly drove into a large crowd during a carnival in Mannheim. The car crash injured dozens of carnival-goers, and at least two people died. Authorities did not release many details regarding the incident, but police did arrest the driver. Local authorities confirmed the driver acted alone, suggesting it was deliberate, and there was no further threat to the public.
