91-Year-Old Woman Was Turning Before Fatal Crash at 99 Ranch Market, Authorities Report
Three People Killed in Westwood Grocery Store Crash
A tragic incident unfolded Thursday afternoon in Westwood, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including two employees and a customer, at a local grocery store. According to the LAPD, a 92-year-old woman was attempting an unsafe left turn when her vehicle struck a bicyclist, subsequently crashing into a 99 Ranch Market.
The collision occurred at approximately 1350 S. Westwood Blvd., at the intersection with Rochester Avenue. Preliminary investigations have raised questions regarding the driver’s actions prior to the crash; officers are trying to ascertain whether she may have panicked and accelerated instead of braking or mistakenly pressed the wrong pedal.
The vehicle, a Mercedes Benz sedan, came to rest entirely inside the store. It will undergo a thorough examination to identify any potential mechanical failures. Detectives plan to analyze data from the car’s onboard computer and review the driver’s medical and driving history to check for any restrictions that may have been in place.
Authorities indicated that the driver is fully cooperating with the investigation.
The victims have been identified by the county medical examiner. Among them was 42-year-old Deris Renjo, who, along with a 55-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, died at the scene. The two deceased employees of the market were joined by a customer in this devastating incident.
In addition to the fatalities, at least six others sustained injuries. Among these, two 35-year-old men are currently in critical condition, while two others, aged 37 and 38, are in moderate condition. The driver of the sedan and the bicyclist were evaluated at the scene but declined to be transported to a hospital.
