Limo Crashes Down Hill, Injuring 7

Seven people were injured when a limo driver, who made a shifting mistake, crashed his vehicle into a parked car, causing both vehicles to roll down an embankment in the Hollywood Hills, a police sergeant said.

The accident at 6520 W. Cerritos Place was reported at 7:53 a.m. on Saturday, said fire department spokesman Erik Scott.

Seven people were treated at the scene by paramedics, and five were then transported to hospitals for further treatment of their injuries, Scott said. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

"The limo driver had either just picked up these seven people or was dropping them off when the accident occurred," said Los Angeles police Sgt. O.C. Smith, watch commander at West Traffic Division.

"The driver thought he had shifted into reverse when he was actually in drive," Smith said. "When he hit the gas he slammed his limo into a parked car knocking that car out of the parking lot for that apartment building and down a 20 foot hill into an apartment building at 1971 N. Wilcox Ave.

"The limo also followed the other car down the hill and came to rest behind that same apartment building, Smith said.

The accident remains under investigation, Smith said. And as of 8:45 a.m., the limo driver had not been cited for the accident, he said.