Driver arrested for investigation of murder, DUI; bail set at $6 million
Authorities have identified two of the three women killed when a minivan plowed into a busy intersection outside a Los Angeles metro station at the height of the evening commute. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified the victims as Teodora Villalobos, 57, and Maria Peck, 73.
The medical examiner’s office said both women were killed on the sidewalk Tuesday by blunt force injuries. In an email Thursday, the office said authorities did not immediately release the identity of the third victim, pending the notification of family.
Police arrested the driver, 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko, for investigation of driving under the influence and three counts of murder. Bail was set at $6 million. It was not immediately known when Demianenko would appear in court.
The crash killed three women at one of the busiest moments of the day and took two of North Hollywood’s widely known street food vendors off its sidewalks. Peck and Villalobos were food vendors in Los Angeles’ North Hollywood neighborhood, widely known for selling hot dogs and other street food.
Friends and family members built a memorial to the women on the sidewalk where they were struck, leaving flower bouquets, notes, photos and candles.
Melissa Villalobos told KABC-TV that her mother worked hard and tried to help those in her community. “When she sold here, if people didn’t have money to pay for the food, she would still give food to those who didn’t have anything,” she said.
Peck worked as a vendor for more than a decade, six days a week, even on holidays, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support her family. The page said Peck found joy in being part of the community and didn’t want to scale back her hours even as she aged.