Trader Joe's in Oceanside reopens after woman crashes through store
An Oceanside fire official at the scene after an elderly woman drove her car through the front window of a Trader Joe's in Oceanside, injuring 11 people. (Dec. 6, 2013) Credit: Jim Staubitser
Business was bustling at the Trader Joe's in Oceanside Saturday morning, less than a day after a woman drove through the front window, injuring 11 people.
The window was quickly replaced and, inside, there were no reminders of the Friday afternoon accident that terrified shoppers and sent merchandise flying.
Nassau police said the woman, driving a Buick Verano, rear-ended several cars in the Long Beach Road parking lot, then jumped a curb and plowed about 20 feet into the right side of the supermarket.
Carolyn Tyson, 59, of East Rockaway, said she was surprised to see the store back in business so quickly.
"I was looking for where the damage was," the customer said.
Fire officials said it was "a miracle" there were no fatalities, since the Buick smashed through checkout lines. About 40 people were in the store at the time.
Two serious injuries were reported. One man was run over by the car and another was pinned against a wall, Oceanside Fire Chief Kevin Klein said Friday.
Saturday, one of the victims remained at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow in stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. Further details were not available.
Police ruled the crash an accident and haven't named the driver, who fire officials said was about 80 years old.
The driver, who wasn't injured, was "extremely disoriented" after and possibly before the accident, Klein said.
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