Manhattan Beach Fatality
SUV Crashes Into Manhattan Beach Laundromat, Killing One Person Tuesday Night
Key Points
Manhattan Beach police said officers responded at about 8:05 p.m. Tuesday to Suds & Duds Laundromat at 975 N. Aviation Blvd, after reports of the SUV smashing into the business’s front and “several floor-to-ceiling glass windows,” according to KTLA’s account relayed by Patch.
NBC Los Angeles reported that a person “doing their laundry inside the laundromat” was fatally struck when the SUV drove over the sidewalk and crashed through the glass storefront (while it remained unclear whether the driver was arrested).
AIR7 reported the crash scene from the air shortly after 9 p.m., and said a black tarp was placed in front of the shattered windows to block the view of the body inside the business.
ABC7/KABC placed the crash in the 900 block of Aviation Boulevard and said investigators were visible at the scene; it also said it was unclear whether the person who died was inside the car or the laundromat.
A woman doing laundry was killed Tuesday night after a black Mercedes-Benz SUV crashed through the glass storefront of Suds & Duds Coin Laundry in Manhattan Beach, California. Patch reported that Manhattan Beach police received 911 calls at about 8:05 p.m. and arrived to find the SUV had smashed through several floor-to-ceiling windows at 975 N. Aviation Blvd.
The driver, described as an elderly woman, was uninjured and stayed at the scene. LA Times reported she was cooperating with investigators. Police said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors. No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday morning.
Witness Describes SUV Pausing Then Suddenly Accelerating
Witness Ellie Chambers told CBS News she saw the SUV pause in the strip mall parking lot at the corner of Aviation Boulevard and 10th Street. The vehicle was slanted toward the building. Then it suddenly shot forward at high speed into the laundromat's glass front.
Another bystander, Bryson Garcia, told KTLA he saw the victim under the car after the crash. Her arm was trapped between the vehicle and a washing machine. The driver reportedly told officers her "foot got caught on the pedal," according to MB News.
Victim Pinned Inside, Black Tarp Erected to Block View
NBC Los Angeles reported the victim was a customer "doing her laundry" inside the business when the SUV drove over the sidewalk and punched through the glass storefront. First responders found her pinned beneath the vehicle and heavy laundry equipment. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Aerial footage from AIR7 captured the scene shortly after 9 p.m. ABC7 reported that authorities placed a black tarp across the shattered windows to block the view of recovery efforts inside. Structural support beams were also installed to prevent a potential roof collapse. Aviation Boulevard stayed partially closed for hours.
Pedal Confusion Likely Cause, Investigators Await Black Box Data
Investigators are looking at "pedal misapplication" as the likely cause. That is when a driver accidentally presses the gas instead of the brake. It is a well-documented problem, especially among elderly drivers. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates roughly 15 such crashes happen every day across the United States.
Police have not confirmed the cause officially. They are waiting for data from the SUV's event data recorder — sometimes called a black box — to confirm whether the driver ever pressed the brake. J&Y Law noted that under California law, the driver could face charges ranging from reckless driving to vehicular manslaughter, though no charges had been filed as of Wednesday.
No Bollards at Storefront Raises Safety Questions for City
The Suds & Duds storefront reportedly had no bollards — short, sturdy posts placed in front of buildings to stop vehicles before they enter. Safety advocates say bollards are the most effective barrier between a parking lot and a business entrance. The storefront's large floor-to-ceiling glass windows left the interior fully exposed once the SUV crossed the curb.
The Storefront Safety Council has pushed for bollard requirements at high-traffic businesses after similar crashes. The most cited comparison is the 2003 Santa Monica Farmers Market crash, where pedal misapplication killed 10 people. LA Times reported Suds & Duds remains closed indefinitely due to structural damage. Legal analysts say the property owner could also face premises liability scrutiny over the parking lot's design.
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