SUV hits pedestrians in Los Angeles, killing three and injuring three

Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured when a dark‑colored SUV plowed into a group of pedestrians near the Metro Expo Line stop at 7th Street and Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, police said. The driver, a 31‑year‑old man from nearby Inglewood, fled the scene but was arrested a short time later after a city surveillance camera captured his license plate. He faces charges of vehicular homicide, attempted murder and fleeing the scene.

The crash comes as Los Angeles grapples with a surge in pedestrian deaths. In 2023 the city recorded 2,300 traffic‑related injuries, a 12 percent rise from the previous year, and 45 pedestrians were killed, the highest number in a decade. Officials have blamed a mix of speeding, distracted driving and inadequate street design. The Expo Line corridor, which runs along a busy arterial road, has been singled out for lacking sufficient crossing protection and for having a high volume of both cars and foot traffic. City council members have been pushing for more protected bike lanes and pedestrian islands, but funding delays have stalled many projects.

Witnesses described the vehicle accelerating as the pedestrians waited for a bus. “It was like a train,” said Maria Torres, who was standing near the curb. First responders arrived within minutes and transported the victims to a nearby trauma center. The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement expressing “deep sorrow” and pledged a thorough investigation. The driver’s attorney, who declined to comment, indicated that his client may have been experiencing a medical emergency, though police have not confirmed any health issues. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will conduct autopsies on the deceased, and the Department of Transportation announced an immediate safety audit of the Slauson Avenue corridor.

City officials say the incident will accelerate plans to improve pedestrian safety. The mayor’s office has ordered a temporary speed reduction to 25 mph on the stretch of Slauson Avenue adjacent to the crash site, and a task force will meet next week to prioritize funding for additional crossing signals and median refuges. Advocacy groups hope the tragedy will spur state lawmakers to allocate more resources for Vision Zero initiatives, which aim to eliminate traffic deaths. The community mourns the loss while demanding faster action to protect those walking the city’s streets.