Police say the daytime collision appears unintentional as investigators review medical and mechanical factors.
LOS ANGELES, CA — Three people were killed and six were injured Thursday after a car struck a bicyclist and then slammed into the bakery section of a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood shortly after noon, according to Los Angeles police and fire officials.
The crash unfolded steps from the UCLA campus on a busy weekday, drawing dozens of first responders and closing nearby blocks for hours. Authorities said the driver, a 92-year-old woman, stayed at the scene and is cooperating. Detectives are examining whether a medical episode or mechanical problem preceded the collision. Officials described the case as an accidental traffic crash and said there is no sign of foul play. The Los Angeles County medical examiner is working to identify the victims and notify families while structural inspectors assess damage inside the store.
Witnesses told officers the silver Toyota Prius hit a bicyclist on Westwood Boulevard and continued for about a block before bursting through the market’s front area and into the bakery cases. Customers shouted and scattered as glass shattered. Firefighters and police arrived within minutes and used jacks and stabilization tools to reach people pinned by debris, officials said. Three victims died at the scene. Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Anthony Espinoza said preliminary information indicates the crash was “an unfortunate accident” and “does not appear to be intentional.” Crews cordoned off the parking lot and redirected foot traffic while medics triaged the injured on the sidewalk and inside the store.
Authorities identified the dead only by age and gender Thursday: a 30-year-old man, a 55-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman who were inside the bakery area when the car came through. Six others were hurt. Fire officials said two men were transported in serious condition and two with minor injuries; two additional people declined ambulance transport after on-scene evaluation. The bicyclist who was struck before the storefront impact was evaluated and also declined hospital transport, according to police. The driver was examined at the scene and later underwent further medical evaluation. Investigators said surveillance video from the store and surrounding businesses will be collected as part of the inquiry.
The afternoon crash was reported just after 12 p.m., a time when the popular Asian grocery draws lunchtime shoppers. The market sits along Westwood Boulevard south of campus and near apartment buildings and small restaurants. The Los Angeles Fire Department said crews quickly stabilized the vehicle and checked the building for structural concerns while heavy-rescue units searched for additional victims. Mayor Karen Bass offered condolences and said the city’s Crisis Response Team joined police and fire personnel to support families and witnesses. City building-safety inspectors were called to review damage to the storefront and interior fixtures.
Police said detectives from the Traffic Group are leading the investigation, which will include mechanical inspections of the vehicle, interviews with the driver and witnesses, and a review of any medical issues reported by the driver or observed by medics. No charges had been filed as of Thursday evening. The medical examiner will release names after relatives are notified and autopsies are complete. Officials said any decision about potential charges would follow the crash reconstruction and receipt of toxicology findings, if ordered. The store remained closed Thursday as investigators documented the scene and collected video. Officers said the report will be forwarded to prosecutors once the investigative file is complete.
Outside the market, shopping carts sat abandoned near splintered display cases. A line of brown paper bags and fallen pastries marked the path of the car inside the bakery area, according to witnesses. “It sounded like an explosion and then people were yelling for help,” said Daniel Kim, who said he was in a nearby aisle and saw workers pull customers away from broken glass. A UCLA student who arrived minutes later said she saw firefighters using hydraulic tools near the checkout area and comforting a woman who appeared shaken.
As of Thursday night, police said the investigation was continuing and that additional updates would be provided as information is confirmed. The market’s reopening time was not announced. Traffic lanes around the shopping center were gradually restored while officers maintained a smaller perimeter to preserve the scene for investigators.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.