In the US, at least 20 people have been injured today after a vehicle drove into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said that up to five people have been critically injured and up to 10 are in a serious condition. The incident happened at 02:00 am local time in East Hollywood. Details are awaited. There have also been unconfirmed reports of gunshots being head before the incident.
Victims were taken to local hospitals and trauma centres, according to Captain Adam Van Gerpen, public information officer for Los Angeles City Fire Department.
Mr Van Gerpen told ABC that a line of people – the majority female – were waiting to enter the nightclub when they were struck by a vehicle that also hit a food truck and valet stand. Paramedics also discovered one of the patients had a gunshot wound, he added.
He said one victim was found with gunshot wounds, and reports suggest ‘it was the driver, but we haven’t confirmed that yet.’
Captain van Gerpen said previously that the driver might have ‘lost consciousness’ inside the vehicle, ploughing into a taco cart before ramming the people.
The incident happened in the heart of East Hollywood and near the Los Angeles City College, with crowds out enjoying the Friday night. People were seen running away from the car and into the club, where the emergency services brought more people.
Witnesses have claimed shots were fired in the area before the crash, but it has not been confirmed whether this was connected to the incident.qq1