Early Monday morning, a violent crash in Los Angeles' Koreatown left three people injured, including a tamale vendor who was left in critical condition. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the incident, which took place near the intersection of Third Street and Western Avenue, shortly before 6:00 a.m., as reported by KTLA.
At the scene, two vehicles—a black Chevy Volt and a red Kia Stinger—were involved in what appeared to be a T-bone collision before striking a pedestrian. According to a statement obtained by KTLA, LAFD Public Information Officer Cpt. Adam VanGerpen described the chaotic aftermath, "It looks like two vehicles collided, and during the collision, they hit somebody on the sidewalk." The pedestrian was hit as a tamale server sitting on the sidewalk, illustrating the immediate hazards street vendors face in the bustling city.
The other patients involved in the crash were two adults and a minor, as CBS Los Angeles reported. Apart from the critically injured tamale vendor, identified as a woman by fire authorities, the other individuals sustained minor injuries. Evidence at the crash site, including skid marks and the distance between the two sedans, suggested that excessive speed may have been a factor. As Cpt. VanGerpen told KTLA, "It looks like speed was definitely a factor…there are a lot of skid marks."
While investigating the collision, the intersection of Third and Western was expected to remain closed for several hours.
