Mom of 5 Wasn’t Supposed to Be Working When Car Crashed into Grocery Store, Killing Her and 2 Others

A Los Angeles family is mourning after a midweek crash sent a vehicle into a neighborhood grocery store, killing three people and injuring others, according to city officials.

The collision occurred around midday on Feb. 5 near South Westwood Boulevard and Rochester Avenue. Fire officials said a silver sedan struck a bicyclist on the street before continuing into the front windows of a grocery store bakery, where several people were working and shopping at the time.

Emergency crews arrived within minutes and moved the vehicle to reach those trapped inside. Paramedics triaged multiple victims, but three people inside the bakery were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Several others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Two of the victims were later identified by the county medical examiner as store employees: a 42-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man. A third victim, a male customer believed to be in his 50s, has not yet been publicly identified while officials notify his family. The medical examiner said the two identified victims died from blunt force trauma, and their deaths were ruled accidental.

Loved ones said the 42-year-old woman, a mother of five and grandmother, had not originally been scheduled to work that shift. According to family members, she agreed to cover a morning shift for a coworker who was unable to come in. Tributes posted online described her as deeply devoted to her family and known for helping others whenever she could.

The grocery store issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the employees and the customer who died, calling the loss devastating for staff and the surrounding community.

Police said the driver, described as an elderly woman, remained at the scene. Investigators believe the crash was accidental, and as of Monday no charges had been filed. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review the circumstances leading up to the collision.

According to statements from local fire, police, and medical examiner officials, reporting on the incident is ongoing.