Car ploughs into nightclub queue in Los Angeles, injuring 30

A vehicle has rammed into a crowd of people outside a Hollywood nightclub on a busy boulevard in Los Angeles, incuring 30 people. A man has been arrested and charged.

A vehicle sits on the sidewalk after ramming into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub along a busy boulevard in Los Angeles. Picture: AP /Damian Dovarganes

A vehicle has rammed into a crowd of people on a busy boulevard in Los Angeles, injuring 30 people.

More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in East Hollywood after the incident about 2am local time (7pm AEST).

Three patients were in critical condition, six in serious condition and 19 listed as fair, the Fire Department said.

A 29-year-old man suspected of driving his car into the crowd outside a Hollywood nightclub was arrested later on Saturday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

The suspect, identified as Fernando Ramirez, was booked into custody and charged with assault, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Rosario Cervantes told AFP.

Victims were transported to local hospitals and trauma centres, Captain Adam Van Gerpen, public information officer for the Los Angeles City Fire Department said.

Mr Van Gerpen told ABC News that a line of people — the majority female — were waiting to enter a nightclub when they were struck by a vehicle that also hit a taco truck and valet stand.

Paramedics discovered that one of the patients had a gunshot wound, he said.

“This is under police investigation,” he said. “This will be a large investigation with the LAPD.”

BREAKING: A vehicle has ploughed into a crowd of people in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.

The LA Fire Department says at least 20 people have been injured. https://t.co/TC2ROCL7wW

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/8jVjM39caW

— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 19, 2025

People inside the club came out to help in the minutes before emergency crews arrived, he said, to help the victims.

“They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were … getting some food, waiting to go in. And there’s also a valet line there,” he said.

“The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.”

ABC News quoted a Fire Department official saying preliminary investigations shows the driver may have lost consciousness.

The area where the incident occurred is near Hollywood landmarks including Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame — a sidewalk emblazoned with stars commemorating movie industry figures.

AP, AFP