9 people injured after minivan crashed into downtown LA crowd; investigation ongoing

At least nine people, including three children, were injured after a minivan drove into a crowd of people Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.

The incident occurred at about 3:15 p.m. local time in Santee Alley, a popular open-air shopping area in the Fashion District, the Los Angeles fire and police departments said. Three of the nine victims have been identified as boys ranging in age from 8 to 17, fire officials told KCAL-TV.

Four other victims, ranging in age from 23 to 55, were injured and taken to local hospitals. They were listed in fair condition, authorities added.

Meanwhile, two victims, both 23-year-old women, were "released against medical advice," firefighters on the scene told the TV station. 

The city's transportation department was managing traffic control in the area, authorities said.

It is not yet known what caused the collision, as the victims’ identities have yet to be released. Los Angeles police told KTLA-TV Sunday evening that there was no evidence that drugs and or alcohol were a factor in the crash and nothing that indicated the collision was intentional.

The incident is under investigation, authorities said.

This is a breaking news story. Please follow @USATODAY for additional updates.