At least 20 people have been injured after a vehicle ploughed into a crowd in Los Angeles, emergency services have confirmed.
The incident happened on Santa Monica Boulevard near the intersection with Vermont Avenue, with the Los Angeles Fire Department reporting “multiple patients” at the scene.
The vehicle involved has not been identified, and details of the circumstances remain unclear. However, unconfirmed eyewitness reports suggest there may have been a shooting just before the vehicle struck the crowd.
The LAFD said: “LAFD is coordinating patient triage and transport at this time.”
Authorities said up to five people are in critical condition, with a further eight to ten seriously hurt. Around a dozen others are believed to have suffered more minor injuries.
Live footage from the scene showed dozens of emergency responders treating victims on the road.
Unconfirmed eyewitness reports suggest that violence broke out moments before the crash, with police receiving a 911 call about shots fired during a fight involving around 15 people.
Shocking footage from the scene shows multiple people lying on the road near a smashed grey car that had mounted the sidewalk outside popular venue The Vermont. Wounded pedestrians were seen receiving treatment from bystanders, while others stood nearby with their heads in their hands.
Dramatic images show red sirens lighting up the night sky as a heavy presence of fire and police vehicles flooded the scene. A fire truck pulled up and officers rushed to attend to those lying on the ground.
The LAFD said: “LAFD is coordinating patient triage and transport at this time.”
Up to five people are reported to be in critical condition, a further eight to ten in a serious condition, and around a dozen with more minor injuries.
Dozens of bystanders gathered at a nearby gas station as emergency responders worked frantically to treat the wounded. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
