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EL MONTE, Los Angeles County, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 — Three people were hurt Tuesday morning, September 29, when a car crashed through the entrance of a Food 4 Less on Garvey Avenue in El Monte. One victim was reported in critical condition, while the other two suffered injuries described as minor to moderate.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Witnesses said that several people were struck when the vehicle hit the storefront.
One person was taken to a hospital trauma center in critical condition, Lieutenant Aram Choe of the El Monte Police Department said. The other two victims were treated for less severe injuries.
Video from the scene showed multiple police vehicles outside the store, with the car still lodged in the entrance.
Choe said officers had no information yet on the driver's part, and the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Where Storefront and Parking-Lot Pedestrian Crashes Concentrate
Crashes where a car ends up inside a building or crossing a sidewalk tend to cluster around a few predictable settings: strip mall parking lots, grocery store entrances, and drive-through lanes where cars and pedestrians share tight space with no real separation. These areas rely on drivers judging distance and braking correctly at low speed, and when a pedal is pressed in error or a driver loses control, there is often no curb, bollard or barrier built to stop the vehicle before it reaches people on foot.
Unsignaled lots and building entrances are especially exposed because pedestrians there aren't watching for vehicles the way they would at a marked crosswalk. Shoppers walk close to storefronts, load carts, or wait near entrances, often with their backs to traffic lanes. Drivers, meanwhile, are frequently distracted by parking spots, phones, or passengers instead of watching for people near the doors.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities decreased from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023. Even with that decline, storefront and lot-area strikes remain a steady share of pedestrian injury crashes because so much retail design puts foot traffic and vehicle traffic in the same narrow space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a car's speed change how badly a pedestrian is hurt?
Yes. Even a modest increase in speed raises the risk of severe injury or death for a pedestrian, because there is less time to react and more force transferred on impact.
Where do most pedestrian crashes happen?
Many occur in parking lots, near driveways, and at intersections without signals, where drivers and pedestrians cross paths without a clear signal or barrier.
Are pedestrian crashes more common at night?
Low-light conditions do raise risk because visibility drops, but daytime crashes in busy retail or parking areas, like this one, are also common due to crowding and driver distraction.
What should someone do immediately after being hit by a car?
Stay as still as possible, ask bystanders to call 911, and get a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some injuries take hours to show symptoms.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in El Monte, CA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away and avoid moving an injured person unless there's an immediate danger. Getting checked by paramedics on scene matters even for people who feel fine, since adrenaline can mask pain from an injury.
If you were hit or knocked down, ask responding officers how to get a copy of the police report and note the names of any witnesses before they leave. Photos of the scene, if it's safe to take them, can help later even if you're not sure yet whether you'll need them. In a city like El Monte, where retail centers draw heavy foot traffic, following up with your own doctor in the days after a crash is a simple step worth taking.
