Multiple people enjoying outdoor dining and a 69-year-old driver were injured in a car crash Sunday afternoon at the Grand Century Mall in San Jose as the driver accidently accelerated while attempting to park, police said.
Three women and five men were struck by the 2004 Toyota 4-Runner as they sat at an outdoor dining area at around 12:30 p.m.
All eight victims were transported to local hospitals, two with life-threatening injuries, police confirmed. The driver of the vehicle was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
“The wheels were spinning and there was smoke coming from the car and then it jumped the lane,” said Buck Suggs of San Jose, who was manning a political booth just a few feet away.
He said the vehicle jumped a second meridian before speeding toward the packed restaurant.
“When he plowed into the people and hit them, there was yelling and screaming,” he said.
Suggs said the driver’s relatives mentioned he may have been having a medical emergency.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact San Jose Police Detective Templeman at (408) 277-4654.
