Tuesday morning in downtown Los Angeles turned chaotic when an SUV jumped the curb on East 8th Street, barreled onto the sidewalk and hit pedestrians along with a street tree, triggering a major emergency response. The Los Angeles Fire Department said six people were evaluated at the scene, with five taken to hospitals and one treated and released. The crash briefly shut down lanes around 535 E. 8th St., tangling traffic through the Flower District near San Julian Street.
According to LAFD, the department issued an "Update Traffic" alert for INC#0747 and listed FS9 and Batt 1 among the responding units. The alert included a map of the crash site and a "DETAILS" link for follow-up information. LAFD also directed media and the public to the LAPD for additional questions, citing LAPD incident #2173.
Injuries and hospitalizations
Reporting from NBC Los Angeles and department logs indicated that five people were transported to hospitals and a sixth was treated and released at the scene, with two of the patients described as being in at least serious condition. Officials have not released the names or ages of those injured, and hospitals and the LAPD did not immediately provide further updates on their conditions.
What happened at the scene
Eyewitness accounts and station footage showed first responders clustered around a silver SUV that came to rest in front of a florist, near a tree the vehicle had struck, as crews shut down lanes in the Flower District. ABC7 reported that the crash was called in just before noon near East 8th Street and San Julian Street. It remained unclear whether the victims were on the sidewalk or in the roadway when the SUV left the street, and authorities were still working to piece together the sequence of events.
Investigation
The LAFD alert noted that Central Bureau units responded and that the LAPD would lead the collision investigation, with the fire department directing media to LAPD incident #2173 for additional details. The LAFD post remained the main public update while detectives processed the scene. As of early afternoon, LAPD had not announced any arrests or released an assessment of fault.
Why this matters
Pedestrian-involved crashes continue to be a stubborn problem in Los Angeles. Reporting last month cited roughly 290 traffic-related deaths in 2025 and renewed calls from safety advocates for speed cameras and redesigned crosswalks under the city’s Vision Zero program. The Los Angeles Times has framed the rising toll as part of a broader fight over what the city is willing to do to protect people outside cars.
Drivers should expect intermittent lane controls near East 8th Street as crews finish clearing the area and investigators continue their work. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
