In the bustling aisles of the 99 Ranch Market in Westwood, Los Angeles, what should have been an ordinary Thursday shopping trip turned into an unimaginable nightmare. On February 5, 2026, a 92-year-old woman behind the wheel of a silver Mercedes sedan struck a bicyclist on Westwood Boulevard, lost control, and careened straight through the store’s front windows into the bakery section. The impact was catastrophic: three lives were lost instantly, and at least six others were injured in the chaos of shattered glass, twisted metal, and screams.

Among the victims was 28-year-old Zih Dao, a young man described by those who knew him as full of promise and energy. He was simply there as a customer, perhaps picking up groceries or treats, when the vehicle smashed through the storefront. Pronounced dead at the scene alongside two store employees, Zih Dao’s death has left a community reeling and a family devastated.

The most gut-wrenching scene unfolded outside the cordoned-off store as emergency responders worked frantically. Zih Dao’s mother arrived, her face etched with terror and disbelief. Clutching at anyone who could provide answers, she cried out in anguish, repeating through sobs that her son “still has a future ahead of him.” Witnesses described her pacing, pleading for information, clinging to the slim hope that he might have survived the crash. Hours of waiting turned to horror when police finally confirmed his identity among the fatalities. Her cries echoed across the street, a raw expression of a mother’s worst fear realized in an instant.

The driver, an elderly woman, was cooperating with authorities, and investigators have indicated the incident was not intentional. Preliminary reports suggest she may have suffered a medical emergency or simply lost control after the initial collision with the cyclist. No charges have been filed yet, but questions linger about road safety for senior drivers and how such a preventable tragedy could unfold in broad daylight.

Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes have since accumulated at the site, turning the once-familiar supermarket entrance into a makeshift memorial. Community members, many from the local Asian-American population that frequents 99 Ranch, gathered in shock and grief. The store remains temporarily closed as the investigation continues and repairs begin.

Zih Dao was just 28—barely beginning what many believed would be a long, successful life. His mother’s words, “She still has a future ahead of her,” spoken in desperate hope before the devastating news, now stand as a painful reminder of lives cut short. In the aftermath, families mourn not just the loss of loved ones but the ordinary moments stolen forever: a quick errand turned fatal, a son’s bright tomorrow erased in seconds.

This heartbreaking event serves as a stark wake-up call about vulnerability on our roads and the fragility of life. As Westwood heals, the image of a grieving mother waiting in vain will linger, a symbol of profound, irreplaceable loss.