Two pedestrians were killed and three others injured in a tragic crash in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, after a suspected DUI driver struck a group of people early Sunday morning, April 12, 2026.
The incident occurred around 2:25 a.m. in the 6100 block of Colfax Avenue, when a speeding vehicle driven by 32-year-old Vidal Cruz Jr. of Pacoima allegedly struck two pedestrians who had just exited a parked car. The impact threw both victims into the roadway before the vehicle continued out of control, crashing into parked cars and a residential property.
Emergency responders pronounced a man in his 30s dead at the scene. A woman in her 50s was transported to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Their identities have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
Three occupants inside the parked vehicle that was struck sustained minor injuries but survived the crash.
Authorities say the driver, Vidal Cruz Jr., was suspected of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. He was later arrested and booked on two counts of murder following treatment at a hospital. His bail was set at $4 million as the investigation continues.
Witnesses described a chaotic aftermath, with the driver reportedly disoriented and crawling from the wreckage before being taken away by paramedics. Police have since recovered surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigation.
The tragedy has left the local community shaken, as authorities once again urge drivers to avoid impaired driving, warning of the devastating consequences it can bring.
The victims will be remembered by loved ones for the lives they lived, not the circumstances of their passing.
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