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DUI suspect in deadly North Hollywood crash is charged with murder
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Ihor Demianenko, 61, has been charged with three counts of murder after a suspected drunk driving crash near the North Hollywood Metro station killed three street food vendors and injured two others.
- Demianenko’s blood-alcohol content was over three times the legal limit, and he was driving at an unsafe speed when his vehicle jumped the curb and struck vendors stationed along Lankershim Boulevard.
- The victims were Francesca Krystine Esker (39), Teodora De Jesus Villalobos (57), and Maria Angelica Peck (73), who were well-known community members selling food to commuters for years.
- Authorities expressed sympathy for the victims' families and noted the tragedy highlights ongoing dangers from impaired driving in Los Angeles.
- Demianenko remains hospitalized and is expected to be arraigned soon; he has no prior driving offenses in California but was involved in a car accident earlier in 2024.
