Three women who made their living as street vendors in North Hollywood lost their lives Tuesday evening when a white SUV careened into their food stand near a Metro bus station. The tragedy has left a community in mourning and once again raised questions about impaired driving on our city streets.
The collision occurred at approximately 5:55 in the evening at the corner of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards. Los Angeles firefighters arriving at the scene pronounced three individuals dead. Three additional victims were transported to area hospitals, two in critical condition. As of late Tuesday evening, one victim had stabilized while another remained in critical condition.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Teodora Villalobos, 57, Maria Peck, 73, and Francesca Krystine Esker, 39. According to witnesses at the scene, these women were familiar fixtures in the neighborhood, with at least one having operated her food stand in that location for more than fifteen years.
Los Angeles police have arrested the driver, identified as 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko of Valley Village. He faces three counts of murder and is being held on bail exceeding six million dollars. Authorities report that Demianenko was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash and suffered serious injuries himself.
According to investigators from the LAPD Major Collision Investigation Team and Valley Traffic Division, Demianenko was attempting to avoid another vehicle that was operating legally and safely when he struck the food stand. Police Chief Jim McDonnell addressed the incident, stating that investigators would conduct a thorough and deliberate examination of all circumstances surrounding the collision. Detectives continue to seek security camera footage from the Metro station and nearby businesses.
The human cost of this tragedy extends far beyond statistics and police reports. Those who knew these women describe them as pillars of their community, women who provided not just sustenance but kindness to all who crossed their paths.
Melissa Villalobos, daughter of Teodora, whom friends knew as Doris, spoke through her grief at a growing memorial. She remembered her mother as selfless, independent, and hardworking, a woman who never refused to give food or water to those in need. Every achievement in her life, she said, would now be dedicated to her mother’s memory.
Laduke Warwick, who once experienced homelessness, recalled how Doris first approached him years ago with a bacon-wrapped hot dog and a soda, then sat down to talk with him. That simple act of kindness forged a lasting bond. Local photographer Jeff Wilson, who photographed Doris just four months ago, called her an anchor of the community who remained steadfast through every challenge the city faced.
The other injured victims, women between 50 and 55 years of age, remain hospitalized.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her condolences to the families affected by this tragedy. City Councilman Adrin Nazarian, who represents the district, has partnered with a nonprofit organization to establish a fund supporting the victims’ families.
Throughout Wednesday, community members continued to gather at the crash site, leaving flowers and sharing memories. Mike Sandoval, a regular customer, captured the sentiment of many when he observed that these women were mothers and grandmers, somebody’s somebody. They were present every day, he said, always there when someone needed them.
And that is the way it is.
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