A driver who police say plowed a minivan into pedestrians outside the North Hollywood Metro station, killing three women, has been booked on three counts of murder and felony DUI, the Los Angeles Police Department said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Ihor Demianenko, 61, of Valley Village, was arrested on Tuesday night and booked at the LAPD's Valley Jail in Van Nuys. He is being held on $6.03 million bail as detectives work to establish what caused the deadly North Hollywood Metro crash.

Three women, aged 40, 53 and 69, were pronounced dead at the scene, and two other women were taken to hospital in critical condition. Police said Demianenko was under the influence when arrested, but have not said what substance was suspected or what caused him to lose control.

Key Points

• Ihor Demianenko, 61, of Valley Village, was booked on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on three counts of murder and felony DUI.
• Three women, aged 40, 53 and 69, were killed when the minivan struck pedestrians and food vendors on the sidewalk on Tuesday evening.
• Two other women were taken to hospital in critical condition, and six people were struck in total, police said.
• Police said the white Toyota Sienna was travelling south on North Lankershim Boulevard at an "unsafe speed" when it veered right, hit a traffic light and mounted the sidewalk.
• Demianenko is being held on $6.03 million bail while the investigation continues.

What Happened

The crash happened at about 5:55 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards, outside the North Hollywood Metro station. Police said Demianenko was driving his white Toyota Sienna southbound on North Lankershim Boulevard when the minivan veered right, hit a traffic light and plowed through a food vendor's tent before striking six people on the sidewalk.

The three women who died were pronounced dead at the scene; their names have not been released, pending notification of their families. At least one was a street vendor, and the victims included both vendors and pedestrians, city officials said. Two women in their 50s were rushed to hospital with critical injuries. Demianenko was also taken to hospital; he was not in critical condition and was talking when pulled from the vehicle, appearing to be in shock.

He was arrested on Tuesday night after officers determined he was under the influence, and booked on Wednesday at the LAPD's Valley Jail in Van Nuys. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said investigators have video of the crash and will examine it frame by frame.

Background and Context

The North Hollywood Metro station is one of the busiest transit hubs in the San Fernando Valley, serving the B Line subway and the G Line busway. The intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards is lined with food vendors, and the sidewalks are crowded through the evening rush.

The fire department confirmed the deaths on Tuesday evening, when officials had released no information about the driver, the vehicle or the cause. Wednesday's arrest and booking is the first official account of who was behind the wheel.

In California, a fatal crash involving a driver under the influence can lead to murder charges when prosecutors allege implied malice, knowing the danger and driving anyway. The Los Angeles County District Attorney will decide what charges are formally filed; as of Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors had not yet announced them.

North Hollywood Metro Crash: The Charges Against Demianenko

Demianenko was booked on three counts of murder and one count of felony driving under the influence. Booking charges are the counts police record on arrest; the District Attorney then decides which charges to file in court.

The three murder counts correspond to the three women killed on the sidewalk, and the felony DUI count reflects the allegation that he was under the influence when people were killed and seriously injured. Police have not said whether toxicology results are back. His bail was set at $6.03 million, an unusually high figure that reflects the scale of the case, and he will remain in custody unless he can post it or arrange a bond. No court date had been announced as of Wednesday, and it was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.

Reactions and Quotes

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the victims included street vendors and pedestrians, underlining that the crash struck people who were working and walking on an ordinary evening, not a crowd gathered for an event.

Chief McDonnell's promise that investigators will examine the video "frame by frame" signals that the LAPD expects the footage to be central to the case, both for the minivan's speed and path and for whether his driving showed the awareness of risk a murder charge requires. No statement has been released on Demianenko's behalf, and no lawyer has been identified for him. The LAPD has asked anyone who saw the crash, or has video of it, to come forward.

Why It Matters

The case matters because it turns a familiar Los Angeles danger, a vehicle leaving the road and striking people on a crowded sidewalk, into a homicide prosecution. Three women are dead, two more are fighting for their lives, and the driver now faces the most serious charges available under California law. It also matters for the vendors and pedestrians who use the sidewalks around one of the Valley's busiest stations every day.

What Happens Next

The case now moves to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, which will decide what charges to file and when Demianenko will first appear in court for an arraignment, where he will be told the charges and asked to enter a plea. Detectives will keep gathering evidence, finishing their review of the video, taking statements from witnesses and the two women who survived, and awaiting toxicology results. The names of the three women who died are expected to be released once their families have been notified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the driver charged after the North Hollywood Metro crash?
Ihor Demianenko, 61, of Valley Village. Police say he was driving the white Toyota Sienna that struck pedestrians outside the North Hollywood Metro station on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

What charges does he face?
He was booked on three counts of murder and felony driving under the influence. The District Attorney will decide what charges are formally filed in court.

Who were the victims?
Three women, aged 40, 53 and 69, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names have not been released pending notification of their families. Two other women were taken to hospital in critical condition.

What happens next in the case?
The District Attorney will review the LAPD's case and decide the charges to file. Demianenko, held on $6.03 million bail, will then appear in court for an arraignment, where he will be told the charges and asked to enter a plea.

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