The terrifying moment a driver injured six by driving into an laundromat has been caught on video.
The 74-year-old male driver smashed through the plate-glass storefront of the Page Laundromat in Staten Island, New York around 8am on Sunday, injuring six of the eight people inside.
Three of the injured have been hospitalized in serious condition, but are expected to survive, while three suffered minor injuries, officials say.
The driver was leaving the strip mall parking lot after shopping in a nearby supermarket, and possibly hit the gas instead of the break in what police are calling a freak accident
Patrons are seen doing laundry inside the laundromat just seconds before the impact
The driver was leaving the strip mall parking lot after shopping in a nearby supermarket, and possibly hit the gas instead of the break in what police are calling a freak accident.
Video from the scene shows the white SUV backing slowly out of a parking spot before suddenly accelerating in reverse.
The vehicle smashed through the plate glass window of the laundromat in an instant, catching several patrons off guard as they tend to their laundry.
Folding tables fly and bodies are pinned against the back wall by the out-of-control SUV.
A young woman who is just out of the vehicle’s path of destruction wastes no time running toward the SUV to help when it comes to a rest.
The vehicle smashed through the plate glass window of the laundromat in an instant, catching several patrons off guard as they tend to their laundry
Folding tables fly and bodies are pinned against the back wall by the out-of-control SUV
A manager (left) is seen opening an office door and staring at the decimated window in disbelief, while a young woman (right) who escaped injury runs to help
A manager is seen opening an office door and staring at the decimated window in disbelief, before turning around and realizing a car has smashed into his business.
Witnesses told NBC 4 that one of the victims was pregnant.
‘She couldn’t feel her legs, she was in a lot of pain. So when she saw me, she was like, “My legs!”‘ Josephine Torlone told the station.
Torlone said that she confronted the driver, who told her he had hit the gas instead of the brakes by mistake.
The damages to the store, which was closed Sunday night, have been estimate at $20,000.
No one has been charged in the case.
The Staten Island strip mall where the laundromat crash occurred is pictured above