Alleged DUI driver hits, kills 2 in North Hollywood

A San Fernando Valley man was arrested on suspicion of murder after crashing into and killing two pedestrians while driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police.

The Los Angeles Police Department said the crash took place around 2:25 a.m. in North Hollywood. The driver of an Acura was traveling northbound on Colfax Avenue just north of Calvert Street at an unsafe speed when he drove into two people who'd just exited a Toyota Camry that stopped along the street.

The Acura then collided with several parked, unoccupied vehicles before settling in a private driveway.

One of the pedestrians, identified only as a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other, a woman in her 50s, died later in a hospital. Their names are yet to be released, pending notification of next-of-kin.

Police said three people were still inside the Camry at the time of the crash, and they sustained only minor injuries.

The Acura's driver was identified as 32-year-old Vidal Cruz Jr. of Pacoima. Police said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Cruz was arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder. His bail has been set at $4 million.

Residents inside the house where the crash happened said that the impact was so loud that they thought an earthquake was happening. 

"Literally the whole house was sleeping," said Walter Morales. "We just heard like a loud, 'Boom!' and we all think it's, like, an earthquake, but my roommate, who lives, like, on the wall that got hit, he's the one that felt it first because the car actually hit his wall and broke through."