Folsom Police and Fire were at Starbucks this afternoon, around 3pm. It was the scene of a vehicle collision through the glass window of the building at 603 A East Bidwell Street. At approximately 2:50 pm, nine people suffered minor injuries, and two were quickly transported to area hospitals. At the time, police said impairment did not appear to be a factor in the crash.
The driver of the Lexus SUV was parking her vehicle when the vehicle accelerated over a parking barrier onto East Bidwell Drive then back toward the building. The car crashed through a side window and into the main area of the shop.
Neither the driver of the vehicle nor her passenger were injured, but eight customers inside the store suffered injuries. Six people were transported to area hospitals with varying injuries. One person is in serious condition but most suffered only minor injuries.
The investigation is ongoing but police now say there is no indication that impairment, age or cell phone usage was a factor.
George K, an astute Folsom Local News reader points out that Lexus RX300 vehicles have been known to have speed control problems, as documented by the NHTSA and displayed at the website ARFC.org
“2003 LEXUS RX300 Vehicle Speed Control Problems”
Here is one of several NHTSA reports that MAY be similar to this news report:
TL CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS RX300. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL. AS HE SWERVED THE VEHICLE HE HIT THREE SMALL TREES, A WOODEN FENCE, AND A BRICK WALL BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. … THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. … UPDATED 05/17/10.
