POLICE: Car crashes into King Soopers off Uintah Street Tuesday in Colorado Springs
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) confirms a car crashed into the King Soopers off Uintah Street.
The call came in around 4:11 p.m. Tuesday, police say.
The CSPD states that the driver entered the parking lot, then made a right turn and drove eastbound towards the building, accelerating to a high speed and subsequently driving into the building.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) confirms that six individuals, including the driver, were transferred to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Police say the crash appears to be a “complete accident” and that the suspect was fully cooperative with law enforcement.
The CSFD had to cut off the vehicle’s roof to remove it from the store.
(Source: CSFD)
Firefighters were also concerned that the batteries of the electric vehicle that crashed might explode and cause a fire.
Photos from inside the store indicate that the car nearly hit the checkout registers.
SOURCE: Shawn Williams
SOURCE: Shawn Williams
Statement from King Soopers:
We are saddened to hear of the unfortunate incident that occurred at our store located at 1750 W. Uintah St. We are cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the incident. The safety and well-being of our customers and associates remain our top priority and will continue to guide all our decisions. At this time the store is currently closed.
A man named Caleb was among the family members of people inside the store who gathered in the parking lot, wondering if their loved ones were hurt.
“Honestly, like, it’s just shook me, because it sounded like a bomb,” he recalled. “I wondered, like, what the heck is happening? People are screaming and stuff. I saw this one lady. She was crying, so I checked on her real quick. I checked her head, made sure she wasn’t bleeding, because she asked me to.”
The store remained closed on Wednesday morning, and an employee told KRDO 13 that it won’t reopen until Thursday, pending official confirmation from corporate officials.
The hole in the store’s wall has been partially boarded up, and a private security guard is on duty at the entrance.
Many customers arriving on Wednesday morning were surprised and frustrated by the closing.
“I came here for a flu shot,” said Debbie Truax. “I made the appointment this morning. I didn’t think it would be closed, because they follow through on what they say. So, now I’ve got to find another one because I’m going on vacation tomorrow.”