11 Hurt When Driver Rams 2 Cars, Plows Into Crowd

At least 11 people were injured Thursday night, four critically, when a suspected drunk driver struck two cars from behind and then plowed through a group of homeless people seated on a brick tree planter near downtown, police said.

Jose Flores, 31, was traveling at more than 50 mph--twice the speed limit on one-way North Main Street--when his car approached two others from behind at Alameda and Main streets, police said.

Flores’ vehicle careened between the two cars and then struck a group of homeless people sitting on the planter. One witness said Flores was honking his horn, as if he could not stop, police said.

The collision spun one of the cars 180 degrees and sent all the homeless people flying, some as far as 25 feet.

Flores, who was listed in critical condition at County-USC Medical Center, was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk.

“There was a homeless person sitting on the bench who shouted, ‘Watch out!’ ” recalled Linda Bachiero, one of the other drivers involved.

“Suddenly I went airborne. Thank God I’m alive. When I got out of the car, there were people moaning everywhere.”

Bachiero, a telemarketer from Echo Park, was delivering a turkey dinner to a homeless friend on nearby Broadway when the accident occurred.

Three children in the other car escaped injury.

Of the 11 adults who were injured, four were treated at the scene.

The other seven were taken to hospitals, where four were listed in critical condition and the rest in fair condition.

Police did not release the names or ages of the other victims.