A horrific crash at a popular Westwood grocery store on Thursday afternoon left three people dead and six others injured. The incident occurred when a silver Mercedes sedan, driven by an elderly woman, careened into the 99 Ranch Market at the busy intersection of South Westwood Boulevard and Rochester Avenue. The Los Angeles Fire Department received the first reports of the collision at precisely 12:11 p.m. on February 5, 2026.
Authorities state that the chain of events began approximately one block away from the store, where the vehicle first struck a bicyclist. The driver, identified as a 92-year-old woman, then continued southbound, lost control, and mounted the sidewalk before crashing through multiple large front-facing windows of the supermarket. The car came to a final stop inside the store’s bakery section, an area that was occupied by customers and employees at the time.
The impact was catastrophic for those inside the bakery. Three individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as 52-year-old Leonel Mateo, a customer; and two store employees, 42-year-old Deris Renoj and 28-year-old Zih Dao. In a tragic detail, store officials confirmed that Mateo and Renoj were not originally scheduled to work that day but had taken on a last-minute shift change.
Firefighters faced a chaotic and challenging rescue operation. Several victims were found trapped underneath the vehicle, requiring firefighters to move the car to free them before beginning triage. In total, nine patients were assessed at the scene. Four men were transported to area hospitals: two 35-year-olds in critical condition and a 37-year-old and a 38-year-old in fair condition. The driver and the bicyclist who was initially struck were evaluated by paramedics but declined to be taken to the hospital.
The Los Angeles Police Department has stated that the crash does not appear to be an intentional act. Investigators are actively working to determine the cause, with a specific focus on whether a medical issue may have led the driver to lose control of her vehicle. No arrests or citations have been announced as the investigation continues.
The community and the company are united in grief. The 99 Ranch Market released a statement expressing it is “heartbroken by this loss” and offered condolences to the families of the victims and the broader community. The Westwood location remains closed indefinitely. In the days following the tragedy, residents have created a makeshift memorial outside the damaged store, leaving flowers, candles, and messages to honor the lives lost in the sudden and devastating accident.
