Car Crashes Into Glendale Bakery; 1 Killed

Four others hurt in multi-car collision

UPDATE: The slain bakery customer was identified by the county coroner's officer Friday as Stepan Vardanyan, 55, of Glendale, pictured below. The driver was 71-year-old Wanda Wong, also of Glendale, according to police.


At least one man was killed and four others injured Thursday afternoon when a car careened into multiple vehicles in a Glendale parking lot before smashing into a bakery.

Firefighters were alerted to the collision about 1:15 p.m. The incident happened at Oledina's Cake Factory near the intersection of Broadway and Chevy Chase Drive in Glendale (map), said Glendale Fire Department spokeswoman Brandy Villanueva.

A 55-year-old man inside the coffee shop and bakery was pinned between the vehicle and the counter, said Glendale police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

He was declared dead at the scene, Lorenz said.

Gilbert Engilian said it was his friend, whom he identified as Stephan, who was killed. He was visiting him at his watch repair business next door to the bakery.

"He was a very good man," Engilian said. "He'd always come to visit me, two to three times a week, take coffee, talk together."

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The 72-year-old female driver of a newer model Lexus apparently lost control of the car, crossed four lanes of traffic, hit two shopping cart racks, and struck a pedestrian before colliding into the bakery, Lorenz said.

The pedestrian was hospitalized, Lorenz said.

"The other victims did not require transportation. They had minor injuries," Villanueva said.

Video from the scene showed a Lexus inside the bakery, with debris sitting on top of the vehicle. The store's front exterior was smashed. At least two other cars in the parking lot showed signs of damage.

The cause of the crash in under investigation, police said.


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