An SUV crashed into a veterinary hospital in a strip mall on bustling Ventura Boulevard and Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills on Monday, Dec. 2, leaving two injured and causing damage to the business.
The driver was described as an older adult. One of the people injured was an individual walking by in the parking lot, possibly resulting in some fractures, according to Officer Jose Aguilera of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Valley Traffic Division.
No animals were hurt by the crash, according to Aguilera.
Two adult female patients were transported to a hospital from the scene, Los Angeles City Fire Department Public Information Officer Margaret Stewart confirmed.
Access Specialty Animal Hospital is located in a strip mall style area of businesses, inhabiting two sections, with an eyewear business in between each area. The driver reportedly accelerated into one area of the hospital after mistakenly hitting the gas pedal while in drive, before reversing into another room of the hospital, located on the other side of the optical store. The crash occurred around noon.
The white Ford Expedition ended up inside the veterinary hospital, going through a glass panel of what appeared to be a waiting area after the driver reversed. The SUV sat among shattered glass and broken wood, between a vending machine, desk and a row of chairs.
By around 4 p.m., the vehicle had been removed but cleanup of the scene was ongoing. A crew from a hauling and demolition company arrived to remove debris. The damaged areas, including a large concrete pole, and shattered glass that left parts of the clinic open to the parking lot, were blocked off with fire line tape.
The hospital offers 24-hour veterinary services and specialty services such as cancer treatment and animal dermatology.
Employees of the Access Specialty Animal Hospital had no comment regarding the incident. Some areas of the clinic remained unaffected and appeared to be operating on Monday evening.
