Overview
- The crash, which occurred Tuesday afternoon at Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Lorena Street, sent a white SUV onto the sidewalk and struck the entrance and outdoor seating of Los Cinco Puntos deli.
- Surveillance video and witness accounts show the vehicle running over the curb and hitting people seated at a sidewalk table before hitting a power box and the deli facade.
- Authorities and local reporting say five people were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries that range from minor to catastrophic, including one victim who suffered a double leg amputation.
- LAPD’s Central Traffic Division is investigating the mechanics of the collision while officers have requested hospital follow‑up and prosecutors will review possible felony DUI charges against the arrested driver.
- Business owners and neighbors noted existing bollards and long‑standing safety concerns at the intersection, and the crash is likely to prompt renewed local discussion about pedestrian protection and curbside dining safety.