Car Crashes Into 99 Ranch Market on Westwood Blvd, Killing Three Bakery Patrons and Injuring Six Other People

A tragic vehicle collision in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood claimed the lives of three people and injured at least six others on Thursday, February 5, 2026, when a car driven by an elderly woman crashed into the 99 Ranch Market, a popular Asian grocery store.

The incident occurred shortly after noon, around 12:11 p.m., at the store's location in the 1300 block of Westwood Boulevard near Rochester Avenue. According to authorities, the driver-described in reports as a woman in her 70s or up to 92 years old-first struck a bicyclist on Westwood Boulevard about a block away from the market. She then continued driving before losing control, veering across the sidewalk, and smashing through the glass front of the store, coming to rest inside the bakery section.

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz reported that emergency responders arrived to a chaotic scene, with multiple victims trapped under or near the vehicle.

Three individuals were pronounced dead at the scene: two men, ages 30 and 55, and a 42-year-old woman, all of whom had been inside the bakery area when the car plowed through the storefront.

At least six others were injured, with varying degrees of severity. Four people were transported to area hospitals: two men, both 35 years old, in critical condition, and two other men, ages 37 and 38, with minor injuries. Some reports initially cited up to seven injured, including those treated on-site or for less severe wounds. Paramedics set up a triage area outside the store, and a large response involving multiple ambulances, fire engines, and police officers was deployed.

Aerial footage and images from the scene showed the silver sedan (described variably as a Mercedes or Toyota Prius in different accounts) lodged deep inside the market, with its trunk popped open amid scattered debris, blood, and damaged store fixtures near signs for Korean street food and desserts. The store was evacuated immediately, and the building was briefly yellow-tagged for structural concerns before inspectors deemed it stable.Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott emphasized at a press conference that the crash appeared accidental, with no indication of intentional acts or ill intent. "This does not seem to be of any ill intent," Scott said. "Rather, it's being investigated so far as an accidental traffic collision." The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.

No immediate evidence of impairment has been reported, though the full investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is ongoing, examining potential factors such as driver error, medical issues, mechanical failure, or other causes.

Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement expressing condolences: "My heart is with the victims, their families, and all who were impacted by the deadly crash at the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood this afternoon."The 99 Ranch Market is a well-known chain serving the local Asian community and is situated in a busy commercial area near residential zones and UCLA's campus, heightening concerns about vehicle safety in high-pedestrian districts.

The crash disrupted traffic for several blocks, with Westwood Boulevard closed from Wilkins Avenue to Wellworth Avenue, along with the intersecting Rochester Avenue, for hours during the response and investigation.

This incident has reignited discussions among local residents and officials about measures to enhance safety in pedestrian-heavy commercial areas, including potential additional traffic calming features, better barriers at storefronts, or stricter guidelines for elderly drivers. Authorities continue to urge caution in such zones and ask anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact the LAPD.

The victims' names have not been publicly released pending family notifications, and support services are being offered to those affected. The store remains closed as cleanup and repairs begin, with the investigation expected to continue in the coming days and weeks.