Multiple injured after car crashes into market at Santa Rosa shopping plaza, authorities say

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Seven people were hurt when the driver of an SUV crashed into a crowded grocery story in Santa Rosa. It happened around noon Friday at Oliver's Market in the Montecito Shopping Center.

"If sounded like a bomb went off, I heard people screaming," said Dave Schwedhem.

Schwedhem works at Oliver's Market, he was inside the store when a red Hyundai SUV crashed through the front doors, into the express lane checkout stand.

"At that point you saw glass, broken wine bottles everything, there were a few people on the ground. Happy our team acted swiftly getting customers out of the way," Schwedhem.

Employees and customers were injured in the crash.

"There were a lot of people in the store," said Sergeant Tanya Porter.

Police believe this was an accident, they say the SUV's driver was trying to park out front.

"The driver coming from the east parking lot drove up onto the curb and into the glass windows," Potter said.

Police say the 67-year-old driver was not hurt or impaired. She was wearing a boot cast on her right leg.

"So the driver did have a boot for injury on a foot. We will take everything into account, so there is a possibility it could have been the reason why," Potter said.

Hours later, the SUV was pulled out of the store and towed away.

Four out of seven people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The fire department estimates $20,000 in damages. Store managers hope to reopen soon.

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