On Saturday morning, at least 30 people were injured when a vehicle drove into a crowd outside a club on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to reports from the city’s fire department and local media. The fire department stated online that at least seven individuals were in critical condition and six others sustained serious injuries.
Reuters was unable to immediately reach the city’s police department for comment. The incident occurred just before 2 AM local time (0900 GMT), as reported by the fire department. Captain Adam VanGerpen, a fire department spokesperson, was quoted by ABC News as saying that a paramedic evaluating one of the injured discovered a gunshot wound. He could not confirm reports that the gunshot wound belonged to the driver of the car. The report further indicated that preliminary investigations suggested the driver lost consciousness before ramming into a large crowd outside a nightclub, though this could not be immediately verified.
VanGerpen stated that the vehicle apparently first careened into a taco truck located outside the venue, then proceeded to plow through a valet stand and into a large group of people. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) showed roads being cordoned off and patients being transported away in ambulances. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the cause of the incident or the identity of the driver.
The area where the incident took place is in close proximity to prominent Hollywood landmarks, including Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame – a sidewalk adorned with stars commemorating figures from the movie industry.
