Three people are dead and seven others injured after an elderly woman drove her car into the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood on Thursday, just blocks from UCLA campus.
The incident occurred around 12:10 p.m. at the grocery store located on Westwood Boulevard near Rochester Avenue. According to Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz, two of the fatalities were pedestrians struck outside the market before the vehicle crashed into the building.
LAFD crews arrived to find several victims trapped beneath the vehicle and immediately began extrication efforts. Of the seven injured, three are in serious condition while two others sustained minor injuries, fire officials confirmed.
“When fire officials rushed to the scene, several people were trapped under the car and had to be extricated,” Lantz said.
The elderly female driver’s condition and identity have not been released. Authorities have not yet determined what caused her to lose control of the vehicle.
This incident follows a pattern of serious vehicle accidents in the Westwood area. In January 2021, a three-vehicle crash on South Beverly Glen Boulevard resulted in one death and three injuries, with two victims requiring rescue from the wreckage.
The LAPD is investigating the circumstances of Thursday’s crash. Traffic in the area remains heavily impacted as emergency crews continue working at the scene.
Westwood Boulevard has been temporarily closed between Wilshire Boulevard and Rochester Avenue. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene with shoppers and employees running from the store as emergency vehicles arrived. One bystander, who asked not to be identified, said they heard a loud crash followed by screams from inside the market.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
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