Three people were killed and six others were injured Thu., Feb. 5, after a 92-year-old driver hit a bicyclist and then slammed a Toyota Prius into the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market in the Westwood neighborhood, authorities said.
The crash jolted a busy commercial corridor near the UCLA area and left investigators sorting through what happened in the seconds between a street collision and the vehicle’s final stop inside the store. Police said they do not believe the crash was intentional, and the driver cooperated at the scene while undergoing a medical evaluation. The Los Angeles County coroner was expected to identify the dead after relatives are notified, officials said.
Police and fire officials said the driver struck a bicyclist near the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Rochester Avenue shortly after 12 p.m. The car continued about a block, then veered off the roadway and into the market’s bakery area. Several people were trapped under the vehicle as employees and shoppers ran toward the impact, officials said. “At this time, it appears to be an unfortunate accident,” Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Anthony Espinoza said. “There is no indication it was intentional.” Westwood Boulevard was shut down for hours as crews marked skid lines and investigators measured the scene.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews arrived within minutes and found the Prius entirely inside the store, with glass, metal framing and toppled display cases scattered across the floor, authorities said. Two men, ages 30 and 55, and a 42-year-old woman who were in the bakery area were pronounced dead at the scene. Four other men were taken to hospitals, with two 35-year-olds listed in critical condition and two others, ages 37 and 38, later reported in fair condition, officials said. Two additional people were evaluated without being transported. The bicyclist and the elderly driver both declined ambulance transport but were checked by responders, authorities said.
Firefighters stabilized the vehicle and worked aisle by aisle to account for everyone believed to be inside, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz said. Investigators did not immediately say how many victims were pinned under the car before crews cleared space to reach them, and officials cautioned that early counts could change as witness statements are compared with video and medical records. Photos from inside the market showed the hatchback’s rear lifted slightly near shattered bakery counters, with debris pushed deep into the aisle. Outside, yellow tape cordoned off the parking lot while officers redirected traffic and store workers gathered near the entrance, some making phone calls to family.
Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division began collecting surveillance footage from nearby businesses and from inside the store, Espinoza said. Investigators planned to review video frame by frame to map the vehicle’s path from the initial bicyclist collision to the point it crossed the sidewalk and entered the building. Police said they saw no early signs of a pursuit, road rage or another vehicle forcing the Prius off course. Routine steps in major collisions include inspecting the vehicle’s mechanical systems, checking for possible pedal issues, estimating speed, and reviewing onboard data, officials said. Toxicology screening is also standard, though police said there was no immediate evidence of intoxication.
The 99 Ranch Market sits in a dense stretch of Westwood that draws shoppers throughout the day, with apartments, offices and restaurants packed along the boulevard. The area is roughly a mile south of the UCLA campus and is known for heavy foot traffic and frequent turns into small parking lots. Residents and workers said the sound of the crash carried across the block, followed by shouting and the wail of sirens. One shopper who was inside during the impact described a rush of confusion as people looked for ways to lift debris and reach those on the ground, saying employees tried to help before firefighters took over with specialized equipment. A hand-lettered sign later posted at a side entrance said the store was closed until further notice.
Officials said the coroner’s office would release the victims’ names after family notifications, and building inspectors were called to assess damage to the storefront and interior supports. Investigators said the inquiry would move in phases over the next several days, including interviews with additional witnesses, a detailed reconstruction of the collision sequence and review of the driver’s medical condition. Prosecutors typically review fatal traffic cases after investigators complete their reports to determine whether any charges are appropriate, officials said. Police also said the coroner will determine the cause and manner of death for each victim, a process that can take days as examinations and records are completed.
By late afternoon Thu., tow trucks idled nearby as detectives finished measurements inside the market and workers waited outside with management. Officers gradually reopened lanes overnight after clearing evidence markers, but the store remained closed Friday morning as the investigation continued. Police said additional updates were expected after next-of-kin notifications and preliminary reconstruction work were completed.
Author note: Last updated February 7, 2026.