GDELTCalifornia
Goldstein: -5.5Tone: -4.1
LOS ANGELES — The man accused of crashing an SUV near a Los Angeles metro station on Tuesday -- killing three women and critically injuring two others -- was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and three counts of murder, authorities said on Wednesday.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Ihor Demianenko, 61, was traveling southbound at an “unsafe speed” when he veered off the road and struck several pedestrians and food vendors on a sidewalk, KABC reported.
The LAPD said Demianenko was trapped in the car and had to be extricated. He was hospitalized with minor injuries, according to the television station.
The women who were killed were revered street vendors in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported. While police have not officially released the names of the victims, friends and family members identified two of them to KTLA .
According to the television station, Teodora “Doris” Villalobos, 57, and Maria Peck, 73, were killed, along with a third woman.
Villalobos sold street food near the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler boulevards for more than 20 years, according to KTLA .
Her daughter, Melissa Villalobos, called her mother a strong, independent woman who worked tirelessly and rarely turned away anyone in need
“She was very strong, resilient, independent,” Melissa told the television station. “No one could tell her what to do.
“When she sold here, (if) people didn’t have money to pay for the food, she would still give food to those who don’t have anything.”
Residents who knew all three women praised them for their kindness, KCBS reported.
“They’re mothers, grandmothers. They’re somebody’s somebody,” Mike Sandoval, a regular customer, told the television station. “They were out here every day. I had good days, I had bad days coming through this area, and every time I needed something they were always there.”
During a news conference, Los Angeles police Capt. Warner Castillo said that Demianenko appeared to be in shock, and that officials were not immediately able to determine the reason for the crash, according to The Associated Press .
“We don’t know if it was done intentionally, if it was done by accident,” Castillo said at a news conference.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said investigators will review video footage.
“It will be probably a prolonged but a very deliberate investigation to determine what happened here,” he told reporters.
Bail for Demianenko was set at more than $6 million, KABC reported.
Open article →GDELTIllinois
Goldstein: -5.0Tone: -10.5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The man charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter following a deadly crash on 71 Highway in Kansas City on Monday is now being held for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, court records show.
The Jackson County prosecutor alleges Eldar Skander, a 39-year-old man, crashed a semi-truck into multiple vehicles, causing three people to die. Jail records show Skander is being held in Jackson County Detention Center with “an additional hold for ICE.”
Skander was charged Tuesday by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office with three counts of involuntary manslaughter after 35-year-old Olga Sorbalo and two of her sons, Luis Sorbalo, 9, and Samir Sorbalo, 6, were killed in the crash.
On Wednesday, the official X account of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Skander was “an illegal alien from Ukraine.”
“Reckless open-border policies have resulted in countless preventable tragedies,” the department said. “Three more innocent American lives were lost. Two children who will never get to grow up, and a mother who will never get to watch them grow. These deaths were tragic and preventable. No other family should have to endure this loss. This is our WHY.”
His address, listed in the court filing, showed Skander lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Court documents allege Skander was driving a semi-truck at a high speed on northbound U.S. 71 at about 3:20 p.m. when he struck three vehicles that were stopped. A preliminary investigation found no signs of emergency braking by the truck, authorities said.
An officer found an electronic tablet on the truck’s floorboard open to the YouTube application, according to court documents. The tablet included the truck’s driving log and a dash camera that authorities believe may have recorded the crash.
KCTV has reached out to immigration officials for further information regarding Skander’s status.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Open article →GDELTKansas
Goldstein: -3.0Tone: -10.5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The man charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter following a deadly crash on 71 Highway in Kansas City on Monday is now being held for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, court records show.
The Jackson County prosecutor alleges Eldar Skander, a 39-year-old man, crashed a semi-truck into multiple vehicles, causing three people to die. Jail records show Skander is being held in Jackson County Detention Center with “an additional hold for ICE.”
Skander was charged Tuesday by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office with three counts of involuntary manslaughter after 35-year-old Olga Sorbalo and two of her sons, Luis Sorbalo, 9, and Samir Sorbalo, 6, were killed in the crash.
On Wednesday, the official X account of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Skander was “an illegal alien from Ukraine.”
“Reckless open-border policies have resulted in countless preventable tragedies,” the department said. “Three more innocent American lives were lost. Two children who will never get to grow up, and a mother who will never get to watch them grow. These deaths were tragic and preventable. No other family should have to endure this loss. This is our WHY.”
His address, listed in the court filing, showed Skander lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Court documents allege Skander was driving a semi-truck at a high speed on northbound U.S. 71 at about 3:20 p.m. when he struck three vehicles that were stopped. A preliminary investigation found no signs of emergency braking by the truck, authorities said.
An officer found an electronic tablet on the truck’s floorboard open to the YouTube application, according to court documents. The tablet included the truck’s driving log and a dash camera that authorities believe may have recorded the crash.
KCTV has reached out to immigration officials for further information regarding Skander’s status.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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