LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chaos erupted early Saturday in East Hollywood when a car drove onto a sidewalk, slamming into a crowd waiting outside a nightclub and injuring 30 people, including seven critically. The incident triggered panic, a violent confrontation with the driver, and a manhunt for a suspected gunman who fled the scene.
Authorities said the crash occurred along busy Santa Monica Boulevard outside Vermont Hollywood, a popular venue that was hosting a reggae-hip hop event. Witnesses say a silver Nissan Versa barreled into people standing in line just after a fight broke out nearby.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials confirmed that 23 victims were transported to local hospitals and trauma centers. Capt. Adam VanGerpen described the scene as “very chaotic,” with bystanders initially rushing to help the wounded before first responders arrived.
The car also struck a food vending cart and a valet stand before coming to a halt. “Most of the people in line were women,” said VanGerpen. “The impact was devastating.”
The driver, who has not been identified, was found with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital. Police have not confirmed whether he was shot before or after the collision. Witnesses told investigators that bystanders attacked the driver after the crash, and one person — described as a man wearing a blue jersey and holding a silver revolver — is suspected of shooting him.
Authorities are searching for the gunman, and the incident remains under active investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Vendor Maria Medrano, who was selling hot dogs with her husband outside the venue, said she narrowly escaped being struck.
“The car didn’t stop until it hit our hot dog stand,” she told the Associated Press from the hospital. “If it hadn’t gotten stuck there, I probably wouldn’t be alive to tell you this.”
No motive for the crash has been established, and the nightclub has not yet responded to requests for comment.
