1 killed, several hurt after 91-year-old woman hits pedestrians in LA Trader Joe's parking lot
LOS ANGELES -- Multiple pedestrians were struck by a car, one fatally, in a parking lot Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles, authorities said.
The collision occurred shortly before 1:30 p.m. at a shopping center in the Fairfax District.
The driver of a Tesla, a 91-year-old woman, plowed into the security stand located in front of the parking lot shared by a Trader Joe's grocery store, Mendocino Farms and Sidecar Doughnuts.
One victim, described only as a woman in her 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene, while four others were taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Those injured included a 19-year-old man who suffered serious injuries and two women ages 30 and 57 with minor injuries, according to the fire department.
The driver was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the LAFD said. No arrest was announced.
A witness who lives near the scene of the crash described the aftermath and the driver's reaction.
"[The driver] was pretty shell-shocked, and she got out, she didn't realize what was happening. She said she tried to stop the Tesla; it was accelerating and she couldn't stop it," said Drake Piscione. "She said her foot was on the brake, but it kept going. She got out and couldn't believe what happened and didn't realize she had killed someone."
Aerial video showed firefighters attending to the injured at the scene, located across the street from The Grove shopping mall. The Tesla was seen with airbags deployed.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released the following statement:
"I am deeply saddened by the incident outside of the Trader Joe's near the corner of Fairfax and Third, and my heart goes out to everyone impacted."
"My Office has deployed Crisis Response Team members, and LAPD personnel remain onsite. I thank the brave first responders who were on the scene quickly to render aid."
The cause of the crash was unknown, but law enforcement sources told ABC News it appears to have been an accident involving the elderly driver.
The crash remains under investigation.
