Palm Coast woman drives into supermarket

Even while driving in a parking lot, a 76-year-old woman from Palm Coast, Florida, managed to cause a serious car accident that left many individuals injured. Miraculously, no one was killed in the accident. Florida law enforcement officers have said they aren't sure how everyone survived.

The woman was behind the wheel of a 2004 Toyota Camry in a supermarket parking lot in the middle of the day. The Florida Highway Patrol said that she approached a stop sign in the parking lot, but instead of stopping, her vehicle bolted forward. Her car raced across the parking lot and smashed through the front of the supermarket.

Witnesses said that once it crashed through the front of the building, the car traveled an additional 40 or 50 feet before it stopped just short of the checkout counters. Witnesses also said that they estimated the car was traveling at around 50 mph.

The injuries of those 10 victims varied, and three individuals remain hospitalized. One of those victims is an 83-year-old man who is listed in serious condition after he was pinned under the vehicle. Shards of glass severely injured a 15-year-old girl, who had to get 32 stitches to repair her lacerated leg. An infant was also among the injured.

Police determined after an initial investigation that there were no mechanical problems with the car that could have led to the crash. One county official said that the woman was trying to hit the brake pedal as she approached the stop sign, but instead, stepped on the accelerator.

The driver is being charged with careless driving and the accident remains under investigation. While it may have been an accident, that is not enough of an excuse when people's safety is compromised.

Source: ABC News, "Woman, 76, crashes car into Florida market, injures 10," Katie Kindelan, April 18, 2012