(Scypre.com) – Early this morning in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, a horrifying incident unfolded as a vehicle drove into a crowd gathered outside The Vermont Hollywood nightclub, injuring at least 30 people. The crash occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Santa Monica Boulevard, where patrons were lining up outside the club and near a taco truck. A gray Nissan Versa suddenly swerved onto the sidewalk, smashing into the food stand, a valet podium, and dozens of unsuspecting people. Witnesses described a scene of panic and chaos as bodies were thrown into the air and screaming erupted across the block.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials reported that 23 victims were transported to area hospitals. Of those, seven were in critical condition, six were seriously injured, and ten were listed as stable. An additional seven people were treated on the scene and declined further care. Most of the injured were female, and included clubgoers, food vendors, and valet staff. Among the injured was one person who sustained a gunshot wound, although authorities have yet to confirm whether that individual was the driver or another bystander.
In a startling twist, witnesses say that after the collision, bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle and began assaulting him. Amid that chaos, a man believed to be an armed civilian opened fire, striking the driver. LAPD described the shooter as a bald Hispanic male wearing a blue sports jersey, approximately 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. He fled the scene and remains at large. The driver, who has not yet been identified, was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound. His current condition is unclear, and police are still investigating whether the initial crash was deliberate or due to impairment.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing shouting and possibly gunfire just before the crash. One taco vendor, who narrowly escaped being struck, said, “If I hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t be here to tell the story.” Some patrons from inside the club rushed to assist the injured, administering CPR and first aid even before emergency crews arrived. Community members described the aftermath as “a war zone,” with injured people lying across the sidewalk and street.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the driver acted intentionally. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is being reviewed as police work to reconstruct the timeline of events. LAPD has stated that a U-turn by the vehicle immediately before the crash may suggest premeditation. However, toxicology tests are still pending, and the investigation remains open.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement calling the incident a “heartbreaking tragedy” and praised the first responders for their swift and courageous action. She also pledged a full investigation into what happened. The shooting that followed the crash has added a complex layer to the case, and police are appealing to the public for information on the armed suspect who fled the scene.
As investigators work to determine what led to this devastating event, the local community is reeling. Social media has been flooded with footage from the incident, expressions of sympathy, and calls for increased security at popular nightlife locations. Local leaders are organizing vigils and blood donation drives, hoping to support the injured and promote healing in the wake of one of Los Angeles’s most shocking public tragedies in recent memory.