Thirty people were injured early Saturday morning when a car plowed into a crowd outside a Hollywood nightclub. The driver, whose identity has not been released, is in custody and facing charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
“He was transported to the hospital, he’s undergoing surgery, and he is in stable condition,” LAPD’s Lillian Carranza told CBS. “However, he is not free to leave, he is in the custody of Los Angeles Police Department.”
The chaotic incident occurred around 2 a.m. outside The Vermont Hollywood club, which was hosting a reggae and hip-hop event. Many clubgoers were waiting in line or grabbing food from a nearby taco truck when the car, reportedly a Nissan Versa sedan, crashed into the crowd, a valet stand, and the taco truck.
“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were getting some food, waiting to go in. And there’s also a valet line there,” Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News. “The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.”
Bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle and, amid the chaos, assaulted him. A police statement noted that when officers arrived, they found the driver being attacked by bystanders and determined he had sustained a gunshot wound. Authorities are now searching for a gunman who shot and wounded the driver before fleeing on foot.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in East Hollywood. “We have 30 victims: 18 females and 12 males between the ages of mid-20s to early 30s,” Carranza said. Seven were in critical condition, six in serious condition, ten suffered minor injuries, and seven left the hospital against medical advice.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident “a heartbreaking tragedy.” She stated, “The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning—a full investigation into what happened is underway.”
The Vermont Hollywood club expressed its sorrow on social media, saying it was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident.”
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the incident and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The area, near iconic Hollywood landmarks like Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, was left shaken by the events.
