Driver accused of plowing into L.A. crowd charged with 37 counts of attempted murder

LOS ANGELES — A man who authorities said intentionally drove a car into a crowd of people outside a Los Angeles nightclub last week has been charged with 37 counts of attempted murder, the Los Angeles County district attorney said Tuesday

LOS ANGELES — A man who authorities said intentionally drove a car into a crowd of people outside a Los Angeles nightclub last week has been charged with 37 counts of attempted murder, the Los Angeles County district attorney said Tuesday.

Fernando Ramirez, 29, could face multiple sentences of life in prison if convicted, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. In addition to the attempted murder counts, Ramirez is charged with 37 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

Hochman said that the incident early Saturday “could have been catastrophic” and that it was a miracle that no one died.

“When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians that were in front of him on the sidewalk at 2 a.m.,” Hochman said. “Many of them were at the taco truck or they were waiting at valet or they were waiting to get into the club.”

Over 100 first responders rushed to the scene outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub, authorities said.