Man Charged With Murder After Fatal North Hollywood Crash

Ihor Demianenko, a Valley Village resident, was charged with three counts of murder in connection with a crash near the North Hollywood Metro station. Prosecutors also charged him with driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0.08% causing injury. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 54 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.

Police allege Demianenko was driving a Toyota Sienna south on Lankershim Boulevard shortly before 6 p.m. on November 10 when it veered off the road at an unsafe speed and struck pedestrians and food vendors on the sidewalk near Chandler Boulevard. Prosecutors say his blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal maximum by over threefold.

The women who died were, by age, Esker, Francesca Krystine, 39; Villalobos, Teodora De Jesus, 57; and Peck, Maria Angelica, 73. Two other people were hospitalized with serious injuries; one remained in serious condition, police said.

Demianenko missed a court appearance on November 13 because of a medical issue and is being held while bail is set above $6 million. He is scheduled to be arraigned on November 16. A fund has been established to support the victims’ families, in partnership with a Los Angeles City Council member and a nonprofit organization.