Police: Driver who crashed into Ann Arbor Panera mistook gas pedal for brake
A car sits with its front end protruding into the Panera Bread restaurant on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor Sunday.
A woman who crashed a car into the Panera Bread restaurant at 1773 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor Sunday morning accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brake, Ann Arbor police said.
The driver, who was headed north on Murfin Avenue, was making a right turn onto Plymouth when her foot hit the accelerator instead of the brake, Ann Arbor Police Lt. Renee Bush said. The car she was driving crashed through a wall at the front of the restaurant, startling diners inside the restaurant about 10 a.m. Sunday.
Witnesses said the car's bumper and headlights were visible inside the restaurant.
The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Bush said. Huron Valley Ambulance spokeswoman Joyce Williams said two people were taken to University of Michigan Hospital, but it was not clear whether the second person was a passenger in the car.
Police did not provide information about the age and hometown of the driver and the make and model of the car. Police were not available on Monday to provide details about the accident.
Comments
Jon
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
What!? The police officer's statement doesn't make sense. The car could not have been turning onto Plymouth from Murfin. The tire tracks on the sidewalk and grass, the angle of the car, and the damaged tree all confirm that the car had to have been traveling East on Plymouth making a right turn into the lot. Going from Murfin doesn't make sense at all.
Jon
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 1 p.m.
I'll add that turning turning left onto Plymouth from Murfin would require the car making a very wide (as in a hundred feet diameter) turn over 180 degrees. I think we can rule that out unless the driver was, I don't know, asleep the entire time.
alex
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:55 a.m.
Living in this city has made me the most cautious driver, I can't count how many times a day I am nearly struck by another vehicle or some careless citizen wanders into the road. I am aware of the "stop if it looks like someone is going to enter the road" law but these kids don't even look up from their phone as they cross the street. Anyways, I hope the driver of this vehicle is OK it is hard to pass judgement when so few facts are known.
alex
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:48 a.m.
Living in Ann Arbor has made me the most cautious driver ever, I can't count the number of times a day I'm almost struck by a car or the times that someone on their phone just walks into the road paying NO attention to anything around them.
Ron Granger
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
I was once waiting for my number to be called at the DMV. Trying to make the best of it, I stepped outside to enjoy the nice summer day. Someone taking a driver's test pulled up, with the DMV agent in the passenger seat. They were parked away from the building. Suddenly the car lurched forward, up onto the grass and up the hill. The DMV agent started yelling to put the car in park. That agent wanted out! If this car had parked near the building, there is no question it would have smashed into the side of the brick building - hard. I assume that person came back, repeated the test and obtained a license. It is too easy, and we don't require re-testing.
SEC Fan
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.
Am I the only one who finds this excuse hard to believe. Look how far this car travelled after having "accidentally" stepped on the gas instead of the brake....how long does it take a person to realize they're accelerating instead of stopping (and then react to it)?
Heidi Koester
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
Agreed. It makes no sense whatsoever, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Brad
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
Fine article. It's a lot quicker to read when it isn't cluttered up with facts and details.
bruno_uno
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 12:27 a.m.
Any updates on the condition of the tree?
MIKE
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
It's recovering at a local hospital.
MB111
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 12:25 a.m.
Oh those crazy northside drivers.
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
In a perfect world, it would be hard for a driver involved in a crash like this to regain a driver's license. Sadly, she will likely be back on the road as soon as her car is repaired.
TinyArtist
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 2:15 p.m.
You're forgetting about her second car.
russellr
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
The state should have all people that don't know the gas peddle from the brake peddle take a drivers test. I don't want to be out on the road with them. Has anyone noticed how this is becoming more common.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
Do you mean pedal? Also, do you have some statistics that show this is becoming more common?
HereAndThere
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
Yes, I noticed one day someone was approaching a stop sign on a street which was adjacent to the one on which I was driving. It appeared as if the driver was accelerating to the stop sign rather than slowing down, which caused me to wonder whether they might just fly out and hit me! Maybe they were just showing off how good the brakes were. I think there was a banner on the back of the car that said mercedesofannarbor.com
ranger007
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.
I agree
Sparty
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
And where are the snide posters talking about people texting, talking on cell phones, or making other "funny jokes" about those injured in traffic injuries before determining the extent of the injuries or the reasons behind the accident, e.g. whether the individual was elderly, had a medical issue, etc. ?
Fatkitty
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
At risk, here, for making what could be considered "snide" commentary, but I know of many people who prefer to operate their motor vehicle with BOTH FEET: Left on the brake pedal and right on the accelerator. Heaven forbid, they compound the safety issues with one hand holding the phone (or texting - :-)) and the other actually holding the steering wheel. Fortunately, it seems no one was seriously injured... could've been a lot worse.
Sparty
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 3:25 a.m.
Mine may have have had a bit of attitude because Of the callous jokes and lack of decency shown to the injured driver at Webers recently. Those posts were all about jokes, blame, and none about hoping the injured was ok or if a medical issue may have been to blame. A similar trend was expected here as a result .... Funny, right?
Jojo B
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:25 a.m.
Thanks for *your* snide comment! That makes up for the lack of others. :)
MRunner73
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 9:57 p.m.
Good point, Sparty. As you can see, most of those posts were deleted.
almightydanish
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
From this angle, it looks like a Chevy Aveo.
Ron Granger
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
Some people should not be driving or operating heavy machinery. It'll be interesting to learn what citation is given to the driver. Of course, some folks have an uncanny ability to avoid citations. While others, always seem to get the ticket.
Ron Granger
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 1:07 a.m.
That's a perfect example, Robert. Stuff like that happens all the time. Even people who don't damage anything get tickets, while those who total cars do not. Remember the cop in this area who crashed and trashed his police SUV at 4AM? He even ignored police policy and did not call his supervisor to the scene. He delayed reporting the incident. Do you think he got a ticket? Did they even discipline him?
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
Couldn't agree more. I once got a ticket in Ohio for an accident in inclement weather that damaged only my car... insult on top of injury. The worst part was that I called them to the scene for insurance purposes and later found out that the insurance company didn't need a police report for such a small claim that only involved 1 car.
jmx
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:19 p.m.
Well, since it's the driver's fault I guess it's not a Toyota.
MRunner73
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
Glad she was not seriously hurt. Her impact speed was not high enough for serious injury but enough to impact into Panera. I hope she was not distracted.
say it plain
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.
well, it *was* a sunday :)
aabikes
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
maybe heading north on Murfin? or making a left turn? going south on murfin, turning right, and crashing into panera would probably involve a wormhole.
Cindy Heflin
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
Yes, headed north. That's been corrected. Thank you.
shutthefrtdoor
Tue, Apr 24, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
I hate it when that happens!