Car Lands Halfway Inside Starbucks In Petaluma, Injuring 3

PETALUMA, CA — Three people were injured Friday when a woman crashed her light-blue Honda Accord into the front of a Petaluma Starbucks store that does not appear to offer drive-through service. Personnel with the city's police and fire departments responded around 11:40 a.m. to the Starbucks at 440 E. Washington St., near Wilson Street.

"Within two minutes fire personnel arrived to find a passenger vehicle halfway inside the Starbucks," said Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Costa. "Fire personnel found three patients inside the store who had been struck by the vehicle."

At least two of the patients were sitting at a table drinking their Starbucks beverages when the car came crashing in, authorities said.

Two patients suffered minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene, Costa said.

The third patient suffered moderate injuries and was taken by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with lights and sirens activated, Costa said.

Other than the uninjured driver, no one else was in the Honda at the time of the crash, authorities said.

The female driver — police did not disclose her age or name pending the outcome of their investigation — was traveling eastbound on East Washington prior to hitting the Starbucks, police said.

She reportedly told officers she was speeding and in order to avoid a collision, made an unsafe lane change and lost control of her car, Petaluma police officials said.

Staff with the city of Petaluma's Building and Fire departments evaluated the Starbucks store for structural damage.

"The Starbucks was red-tagged and construction personnel were called to the scene to shore and start the process of remodeling," Costa said.

Police were still investigating the incident Friday evening; any witnesses who have not already spoken to police were asked to call Traffic Officer Mario Giomi at 707-778-4372.