Crime & Safety

Elderly Driver Slams Into Building

After hitting four parked cars, the driver ran into a wall shared by a Bank of America office and Plaza Dental Group near Buffalo Wild Wings.

 

An 80-year-old woman suffered minor injuries today when she drove her car into building, hitting four parked cars in her path.

The car ran into an exterior corner wall shared by a office and near at 40484 Murrieta Hot Springs Road at about 1:40 p.m.

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The woman had just filled up at the gas station and meant to make a left turn out of the station, according to Murrieta police Officer Jason Edmisten.

"She stepped on the brake and then she doesn't know what happened from that point, but based on the evidence that we see she pressed on the gas instead of the brake," Edmisten.

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As she was propelled forward, she jumped a curb and hit a parked Range Rover and a Hyundai. The impact lurched the Hyundai across the lot, causing it to hit a parked Toyota Corolla, Edmisten told Patch.

"Then she ended up hitting the wall," he said.

Edmisten said nothing indicated the elderly driver was under the influence of any substances.

"But based on her telling me that she doesn't remember the incident or whether she pushed the gas or not, we are ordering the DMV evaluation," he said.

The woman, whose name was not given, refused medical treatment at first. After she began to complain of chest pain, paramedics returned and transported her to an area hospital to be evaluated.

The sudden accident caught the immediate attention of Mark Millard, manager of Plaza Dental Group. Millard said he was in the front office talking with his receptionist.

"The next thing I know I see a white car flash in front of us," Millard said.

Millard said he ran outside and pulled the woman from her car after seeing that the airbag had deployed.

The dental office was evacuated as a precaution, he said.

Three of the five cars involved were towed, including the woman's white Nissan Altima, Edmisten said.

Joel and Christina Cunningham were eating in Buffalo Wild Wings when they were notified their blue Hyundai was hit.

The couple and their baby had driven up to Murrieta from Escondido to have lunch with a friend, Joel said.

"Situations like this do occur, I just hope she is OK," Joel said.

A building inspector was called in to evaluate the damage, and said it appeared to be mostly cosmetic.

No one was working in the Bank of America office at the time of the crash, officials said.

No other injuries were reported, said Murrieta fire Battalion Chief Steve Kean.

Officials were able to locate all the drivers nearby as well as talk to several witnesses.


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