California Family of Ten Recovers After Severe Hit-and-Run on 170 Freeway

A large, social media-famous family of ten is recovering from injuries sustained in a severe hit-and-run collision in California. The incident occurred Monday afternoon on the 170 Freeway in North Hollywood, where the Lafond family, known online as the 'House of Lafond,' was traveling in their 12-passenger van en route to purchase sushi tacos. According to police reports, an unidentified driver operating a 2012 Acura struck the van with enough force to cause it to spin uncontrollably on the busy roadway.

Johnetta Lafond, the mother, described the terrifying impact to KABC, noting that the sudden collision caused the vehicle to rotate violently. Following the impact, the van struck the median before Johnetta and her husband, Hashim Lafond, were able to call 911. While the other driver fled the scene immediately, authorities later located the fleeing vehicle, though the driver's identity remains unknown. A California Highway Patrol report reviewed by the Daily Mail confirms that no one in the family suffered life-threatening injuries, though all ten members were left sore. Crucially, every family member was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Aerial footage released by first responders shows emergency crews attending to the passengers amidst shattered windows on the damaged van. Hashim recalled seeing the offending vehicle approaching in his rearview mirror at full speed. Despite the horror of the moment, he attempted to inject some levity into the situation, stating, "I really just wanted to get some sushi tacos." His wife recounted the chaos, explaining, "All of a sudden, I hear and feel a boom, and then we just start spinning. And we have a 12-passenger van. That's not something small to be spinning around in."

Hashim expressed deep concern for the safety of other drivers reacting to the sudden accident on the freeway. "Imagine you're sitting there and all the cars are just coming toward you, swerving," he said. He admitted to a moment of disbelief immediately after the crash, asking himself, "Did I survive that? I'm pinching myself like, is this real?" The family includes their youngest child, Yirah, who was born on March 14. The couple, who have garnered nearly half a million followers on TikTok, have documented their large family life and have appeared on major programs such as Good Morning America and The Steve Harvey Show. They have also modeled for major brands including Target, Nike, Delta Airlines, Levi's, and Gymboree.

The family is profoundly grateful that all ten members survived the ordeal but are baffled by the hit-and-run nature of the attack. Johnetta questioned the lack of basic decency, asking, "You couldn't check on us to make sure we were OK?" Their 12-passenger van was completely totaled and had to be towed away. The family is now working with insurance to arrange alternative transportation. Remarkably, despite the severity of the crash and the physical pain some children felt, a few of them still attended dance class that same evening. Eleven-year-old Anaiah Lanfond admitted that while her neck hurt badly, she initially hesitated before deciding to go, reflecting on the surreal nature of returning to normalcy so quickly after such a traumatic event.

It hurt to turn it," a witness recalled regarding the violent impact of the vehicle. The California Highway Patrol continues its full investigation into the severe crash that occurred earlier. Drivers in California face serious criminal charges for hit-and-run incidents, regardless of fault or injury severity. Authorities determine specific penalties based on the ultimate outcome of the collision itself. The Daily Mail reached out directly to the California Highway Patrol seeking official comment on the incident. Community safety remains a top priority while officials work to identify all responsible parties.