Car Crashes Into South LA Apartment Building, Kills Mom Sleeping In Her Bed
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A mother sleeping in her bed with her daughter was killed when a car plowed into an apartment building in the South Los Angeles area early Wednesday.
A car was reported to have crashed into a building at 8760 S. Main St., near 87th Place, south of Manchester and not far from the 110 Freeway. The car caught fire, which was quickly put out.
The apartment was left visibly cracked, and the airbags in the car appear to have deployed.
John Irias says he was about to leave for work when he saw the driver lose control of the car before the crash.
"They hit somebody inside the building. Apparently they were sleeping by the window, so the families are very devastated," Irias said.
Nicole Marks, a 45-year-old mother of four, died in the crash. Distraught family members were at the scene soon after the crash. Video of the scene immediately after the crash captured male voices calling, "mama. mama," and "Oh my God!"
"She was so sweet. She was my sweetest niece ever," Mary Soil said, sobbing.
Marks' 4-year-old daughter, who had been asleep in a bed with her, was hospitalized in stable condition and is expected to be OK.
"The 4-year-old, she just keep calling for her mom. Like, we don't know what to tell her -- she's only 4," Soil said.
LAPD Capt. Jon Pinto said the car hit the wall, which hit the bed and caused the fatal injury to the woman.
A 59-year-old woman who was behind the wheel and a 55-year-old man in the passenger seat of the car were taken to a hospital. Police say they were hurt, but not badly, and are being interviewed by officers.
Investigators are looking into whether speed was a factor in the crash.
A fundraiser was created to help Marks' family with funeral expenses.
