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Car Crashes Into Museum Of Broken Relationships In Hollywood; 2 Women Hurt

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Friends of the two women injured by a suspected drunk driver, who plowed into a museum in Hollywood Monday, said the victims were glad they survived.

The pedestrians were a mother from Michigan visiting her daughter for the first time in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles police Sgt. Ben Zucker said one victim was listed in critical but stable condition while the other suffered minor injuries.

Friends said the mother's injuries were worse than the daughter's.

"Her mom is in pretty bad shape - lots of deep lacerations, lot of bumps and bruises. But mainly, she's having some internal issues," said a friend of the victims, Darian Venerable. "They are grateful to just be able to walk away from this kind of a situation and thankful to be alive."

Naomi Esquibel visited the two women at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "It's a grace of God they were able to walk away, and I can't believe the injuries that they have right now don't compare to what we're seeing," she said.

The woman behind the wheel was arrested on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run following the 3:10 p.m. crash at the Museum of Broken Relationships at Hollywood Boulevard and McCadden Place.

She was involved in an earlier collision a block away at Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

As she was trying to get away from the first crash, she struck the pedestrians and the museum with her black Audi, Officer Aareon Jefferson said.

"It was determined that she (the motorist) was under the influence," Jefferson said.

He said the suspected drunk driver was not hurt.

The Museum of Broke Relationships, once a traveling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins, was conceptualized in Croatia by an artist ex-couple in 2006.

A permanent museum was established in Zagreb in 2010, and the Hollywood location opened in May.

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