Elderly Driver Crashes Through Fairhaven 7-Eleven [VIDEO]
.FAIRHAVEN - No substantial injuries after a car plowed through the front window of the Fairhaven 7-Eleven at the corner of Huttleston Avenue and Alden Road Wednesday morning.
Fairhaven Police Sgt. Kevin Kobza tells WBSM News the accident took place just before 9:30 a.m. when an elderly Fairhaven woman mistakenly hit the gas pedal while in the parking lot. "She thought she was stepping on the brake. Unfortunately she stepped apparently on the accelerator and went through the store," said Kobza.
The car was completely inside the store, damaging displays and causing motor oil to spill across the floor.
No major injuries were reported.
The 84-year-old driver is being transported to St. Luke's Hospital for evaluation. A female clerk was also taken to St. Luke's for evaluation.
The accident remains under investigation.
UPDATE (2:31 p.m.): Fairhaven Fire and EMS sent out the following release:
Fairhaven police and fire/EMS units were called to 188 Huttleston Avenue today for a reported vehicle crashed into a building. Units arriving at the 7-11 Convenience Store found a 4 door Toyota Camry, which was driven by an elderly female, had impacted the front of the building and crashed through the store itself.
The operator of the vehicle and store clerk were both evaluated by Paramedics and taken to St Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford for minor injuries. No one else was injured during the crash.
Deputy Chief Todd Correia reported that the building did not sustain structural damage but that the glass front would need to be replaced. He also credited Acushnet Fire/EMS and Mattapoisett Police/EMS who assisted Fairhaven with five other EMS calls while units were tied up at this incident.
The Fairhaven Board of Health also required that the business be closed until accident damage and affected food products had been removed from the store and the store cleaned. Police and fire units remained on the scene for over an hour while the accident was investigated and the vehicle removed from the structure.