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Two hurt after elderly man drives into Langley's Nature's Fare

Langley RCMP believe the man, in his 80s, mistook the gas for the brake, plowing into the store's bistro on Monday afternoon.
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An elderly man driving this SUV appears to mistook the gas for the brake and drove into Nature Fare's bistro on Monday afternoon. The crash seriously injured two employees.

Two employees of Nature's Fare Market were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a silver SUV came through the front windows of the health food store's bistro and right into the lunch counter on Monday afternoon.

One woman sitting at a bistro table was treated on scene by paramedics and staff and patrons were shaken up by the crash.

The two people who were hurt were taken to Royal Columbian Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, said Langley RCMP.

It was around 1:30 p.m. when Helmet drove his VW Touareg up over the curb and through the bistro windows, with the vehicle smashing right through the seating area and into the lunch counter.

"I couldn't believe it," said a very shaken up Helmet after the crash. "I didn't go very fast."

His friend Terry said he realized he was driving up over the curb but was in shock as it was happening.

"It was an accident," she said.

Langley RCMP say a mechanical inspection has been ordered but police believe Hannie, who is in his 80s, mistook the gas for the brake pedal.

Helmet said he has had a perfect driving record for 30 years. At least two ambulances and several fire trucks were on scene and the store, located in the 19800 block of Langley Bypass was closed. It's unknown when the bistro will be open again. It suffered a significant amount of damage.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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