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SAN DIEGO 鈥� A driver plowed through a sidewalk homeless encampment Monday in downtown San Diego, killing three people and injuring six others, authorities said.

Craig Voss, 71, was heading through a tunnel underneath a community college campus when he drove his Volvo station wagon up on the sidewalk shortly after 9 a.m., San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit.

Voss was arrested at the scene. He faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter, five counts of causing great bodily harm and a felony DUI, Nisleit said, adding that Voss did a field sobriety test by a drug recognition expert. He did not elaborate or identify whether Voss was under the influence of alcohol or other substance. He said additional charges may be coming.

It wasn't immediately known if Voss had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

The deadly crash highlights the inherent risks to the homeless population in California, where their tents and tarps line not only downtown sidewalks but are near ramps where cars accelerate as they enter freeways.

More than 150,000 people are homeless statewide. The number has increased during the coronavirus pandemic that has upended the economy.

Mayor Todd Gloria said most, if not all of the nine people who were struck were homeless.

鈥淭hey were there because they felt like they had nowhere else to go,鈥� Gloria said. 鈥淭his crash this morning did not have to be so devastating. Let me state it very clearly, a street is not a home.鈥�

Three people died at the scene. Five of the six others who were injured were taken to hospitals. Two were in critical condition. San Diego Fire Chief Colin Stowell said both were 鈥渁wake, alert and answering questions.鈥�

The mayor, who took office in December, said the encampment had been there awhile and more people might have been drawn to the tunnel under the San Diego City College campus because the cement overpass provided cover on a rainy day.

On a typical weekday morning it is a busy area with students walking by, but classes have been online during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gloria said the city needs to act now to address its homeless problem, and it was starting by offering shelter Monday to the other homeless people who were in the tunnel and escaped injury. A handful accepted. The city also sent mental health professionals to help.

鈥淲e want to make sure that they did not die in vain," Gloria said of those who were killed.

But he added that the city is facing a shortage of beds at its shelters and he pledged to talk to state and federal officials to get more help, calling the current situation 鈥渘ot acceptable."

鈥淚t鈥檚 not humane or safe to keep allowing our unsheltered neighbours to sleep under bridges, in alleys or in canyons," he said.

Lisa Brotzman said she was peering out of a window in her tent just as the car swerved to the right shoulder, 鈥渟pun out of control鈥� and jumped onto the sidewalk in the tunnel where people were waiting out the rain.

鈥淪omeone was screaming, 鈥楢hhh! Ahhhh!鈥欌�� Brotzman told The San Diego Union-Tribune. 鈥淭wo or three people were yelling and screaming. It was scary.鈥�

The driver got out of his car and tried to help people before identifying himself to police, Nisleit said.

鈥淗e was co-operative, (and) did not try to run away," the chief said, correcting earlier reports from police that he had tried to flee.

Ambulances, five fire engines, a helicopter and more than 60 first-responders responded to the scene.

鈥淥ur crews found, obviously, a tragic incident under the bridge,鈥� the fire chief said.

Julie Watson And Elliot Spagat, The Associated Press