Car Crashes Into L.A. Health Clinic

Car Crashes Into L.A. Health Clinic

Published: 2/3/06
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A car speeding up to 90 mph veered out of control and crashed through the front doors of a health clinic Friday, injuring 13 people, six of them critically, authorities said.

Emergency workers rushed to treat the victims in a chaotic scene of gore, screams and shattered glass, with the black Nissan ZX still inside the clinic.

"You just saw bones and blood all over," said Ana Rodriguez, a medical assistant at a clinic across the street.

Dr. Amani Eldessouky, who works across the street, said she saw a woman whose legs had been severed, another woman who lost one leg and a man bleeding profusely from the head. "It was a terrible scene. I wanted to start shaking," Eldessouky said.

Witnesses said the Nissan and a Lincoln Town Car were racing through a South Los Angeles business district when the Lincoln clipped the Nissan, sending it off course, police Lt. Paul Vernon said. The Lincoln drove off.

The Nissan's driver, Ijumaa Owens, 33, of Los Angeles, was released from the hospital.

"It appears at this time, although the investigation is continuing, that he was struck by that white Town Car, lost control and plowed into the clinic," said Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman. "It appears that he's a victim of a hit-and-run and we don't arrest victims."

Earlier reports that Owens was in police custody were erroneous, Lee said.

A deputy police chief initially said Owens appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, but Lt. Paul Vernon later said that did not appear to be the case.

Police were investigating the reports that the two vehicles were racing. Vernon said the Nissan driver could face felony reckless driving charges, at least, and vehicular manslaughter if any of the victims died. The occupants of the Town Car were being sought for felony hit and run, he said.

Owens' mother told KABC-TV in an off-camera interview that her son denied to her that he was racing or driving under the influence.

Ten of the injured, including two children, were taken to hospitals. Two of those victims were released later Friday.

Six victims were in critical condition, said Fire Department Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas.

Credit BellSouth