HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - One person has died and two others were injured after a vehicle slammed into a building in Hollywood.
Police responded to the scene near North 17th Avenue and Young Circle, at around 2 a.m., Monday.
According to officials, the vehicle was traveling west on Hollywood Boulevard, heading inland from the beach. When it came to a roundabout, officials said, the car continued straight instead of following the circle to the right.
The driver crashed into The Ultimate Pet Grooming and Spa.
“I heard a loud crash and bang,” said a witness. “I ran over and saw the passenger of the vehicle sit down on the bench, and the driver was inside of it.”
“Three subjects were inside the vehicle,” said Hollywood Police Officer Christian Lata. “One was, unfortunately, pronounced [dead] on scene,
Friends identified the deceased victim as 24-year-old Jayson Senesca.
Police said the two other victims were badly injured.
“The driver of the vehicle is currently in critical condition in the hospital, and the third passenger also sustained injuries and is also as well at the hospital,” said Lata.
Moments before the crash, surveillance cameras captured three cars traveling at a high rate of speed on Hollywood Boulevard. Minutes later, rescue crews were seen responding to the scene.
“The [drivers of] the two other cars parked over there, and they came over to help,” said the witness. “They’re friends.”
Monday afternoon, 7News cameras captured balloons and a stuffed animal that mourners had put up several feet away from the wall where the car hit the wall of the business.
“[He was] the funniest person. That’s what he was known for,” said Madison Kirsbaum, a friend of Senesca. “His spirit, his way to easily make somebody laugh, make somebody in a better mood.”
Detectives do not yet know if drugs and alcohol played a role in the crash. If so, they said they will press charges.
The area has seen similar crashes in the past, with the most recent incident being in March 2016. Police said another 24-year-old man was killed when he drove his Cadillac into the same building. Surveillance cameras captured that crash as well.
That victim’s girlfriend suffered serious injuries but survived.
Two years earlier, on February 2014, a small pickup truck lost control at Young Circle. There were no injuries in that incident.
Area residents said they often see cars going too fast on Hollywood Boulevard.
“It’s crazy. That’s why they put up these new lights and everything,” said the witness, “to try to get people to understand and slow down.”
The cause of the latest crash remains unknown.
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