Authorities Identify Two Street Vendors Killed in Los Angeles Metro Station Crash as Community Mourns Third Victim and Awaits Charges

LOS ANGELES, CA — Authorities have identified two of the three women killed when a minivan struck pedestrians outside a Los Angeles Metro station this week, turning a busy North Hollywood intersection into the site of a growing memorial. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said the victims were Teodora Villalobos, 57, and Maria Peck, 73.

Both women died Tuesday on the sidewalk from blunt force injuries, according to the medical examiner’s office. Officials have not yet released the name of the third victim, saying family notification is still pending. The crash happened during the height of the evening commute and drew immediate attention from neighbors who knew the women as longtime street vendors.

Medical examiner confirms the identities of two victims

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Villalobos and Peck were among the pedestrians killed in the crash. Their deaths were ruled blunt force injuries, the office said in a Thursday email.

By identifying the women, officials gave names to two of the people lost in an incident that quickly became deeply personal for the neighborhood. Friends, relatives and customers gathered near the scene to grieve, and the stretch of sidewalk where they were struck became a place for flowers, candles, notes and photographs.

Authorities said the third victim has not yet been named publicly. No additional details were released Thursday beyond the pending family notification.

North Hollywood vendors remembered as familiar faces

Villalobos and Peck were known in Los Angeles’ North Hollywood neighborhood for selling hot dogs and other street food. For many residents and commuters, they were regular presences near the intersection where the crash occurred.

The memorial that grew after the collision reflected that connection. Bouquets, handwritten messages, photos and candles were left on the sidewalk as neighbors honored two women who had become part of the area’s daily routine.

Their deaths resonated beyond the immediate scene because both women were described not simply as vendors, but as people with long ties to the community. Their work had put them in close contact with local residents, commuters and customers every day.

Family and friends describe their kindness and dedication

Relatives say Villalobos had a habit of helping people even when they could not pay. Melissa Villalobos told KABC-TV that her mother worked hard and tried to support the community around her.

“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 was also remembered for her commitment to work. A GoFundMe page created to help her family said she had sold food for more than a decade, six days a week, including holidays. The fundraiser said Peck took joy in being part of the neighborhood and did not want to cut back her hours even as she got older.

Police say the driver faces murder counts and DUI investigation

Police arrested the driver, identified as 61-year-old Ihor Demianenko, on suspicion of driving under the influence and on three counts of murder. His bail was set at $6 million, according to authorities.

Officials have not said when Demianenko might appear in court. The investigation remains active as police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision and the deaths of the three pedestrians.

The crash, which happened in a crowded area during rush-hour traffic, left a lasting impact on a neighborhood where the victims were well known. The legal case is now moving forward alongside the community’s mourning.

A busy commute turns into a scene of grief

The collision unfolded in an area where pedestrian traffic and street vendors are part of the everyday landscape. The timing, in the middle of the evening commute, made the crash especially jarring for people nearby.

What followed was both a police investigation and an outpouring of grief. The memorial at the scene became a public display of loss, while the medical examiner’s identification of Villalobos and Peck gave their families and neighbors confirmation of who had been killed.

For the North Hollywood community, the crash left behind more than a traffic scene. It removed two familiar figures from a place where they had long been seen, remembered and relied upon.