The busy lunch rush at Urbane Cafe in Simi Valley ended in tragedy Monday afternoon when a car barreled into the restaurant's outdoor dining area in the Target parking lot, killing one person and injuring at least five others. Diners and shoppers scrambled as emergency crews moved in, and the cafe's patio was left twisted and wrecked by the collision. The shopping center lot on Tierra Rejada Road was shut down while investigators worked the scene.
What police say
Simi Valley police told CBS Los Angeles the crash happened at about 2:30 p.m., leaving one person dead and five others hurt, four of them with injuries described as minor to moderate. Investigators said the circumstances of the collision are still being sorted out and have not yet disclosed whether the person who died was in the vehicle or seated in the outdoor dining area.
Aerial footage shared after the incident shows what appears to be a white Tesla stopped in the patio space, its front end heavily damaged and airbags deployed. Officers cordoned off a wide stretch of the parking lot while detectives documented the wreckage.
Where it happened
The collision occurred in the shopping center anchored by the Target at 51 Tierra Rejada Road. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the outdoor seating area of Urbane Cafe, which lists its address on Madera Road. The plaza sits at the intersection of Tierra Rejada and Madera and is home to a cluster of restaurants and retail spots.
Recent trouble at the store
This deadly crash follows a separate violent incident inside the same Target earlier this month, when a man was arrested after a brutal assault, according to The Los Angeles Times. In that episode, shoppers intervened to subdue the suspect as the situation unfolded inside the store.
Investigation continues
Detectives remained at the shopping center into the evening while the Simi Valley Police Department continued its investigation, according to CBS Los Angeles. Officials have not yet released the identity of the person who was killed and said they will share further details as they become available.
