MANCHESTER – Many shoppers were injured Friday afternoon at the Manchester ShopRite after a 89-year-old woman drove into the front of the store, police said.
Around 1:03 p.m. on January 5, officers responded to the Manchester ShopRite located at 1001 Route 70 for a report of a sedan that impacted the front of the building.
According to police, Patricia Janelli of Manchester was reversing out of a parking spot in her 2017 Toyota Camry. After placing her car into drive, she accelerated forward and struck a sign support and then traveled over a landscaped median.
Janelli then continued to travel left towards the front of the building and hit a curb. She continued onto the walkway and eventually impacted the front of the building causing extensive damage to the building and merchandise, police said.
Janelli and the other occupant in the car, Maxine Lilly of Somerset, sustained minor injuries and were brought to Community Medical Center for further evaluation.
Authorities stated that many ShopRite patrons were transported to local hospitals to be evaluated and treated for their injuries. Police confirmed that the injuries were minor.
Assisting at the scene were firefighters and EMTs from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Medical Services, Firefighters from Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department and Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, and the Manchester Township Building Inspector.
The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, however police believe driver error is the primary contributing factor in the crash.
This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Conner Yatauro of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
