Car kills 8, wounds 31 at Santa Monica Farmers Market
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 5:17 pm
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A car drove several blocks through a crowded farmers market Wednesday afternoon, killing up to eight people and injuring 31 pedestrians, nine critically.
One of the fatalities was a 2-year-old girl, according to the Santa Monica Police Department (search).
Firefighters and ambulances converged on the market area in the oceanside city's downtown and treated the injured in a large triage area.
Twisted market tents and crumpled boxes of produce lay smashed on the ground along the route of destruction. TV news reports showed a red car with a smashed front end and damage to its roof. What appeared to be shoes were on its roof.
Witness Rony Soussan told KCAL-TV the driver was speeding through the area.
"He just plowed through them like it was nothing," Soussan said.
Ronald Gaba, who works for Acadie restaurant on Arizona Street (search) said he was working inside when he heard screams from the sidewalk.
"During the time, there was a lot crying," Gaba said. "I came outside and saw one body covered by a cloth. I can't describe what is happening, it's something I've never seen before. I don't know who would do this kind of thing."
The incident lasted only a few seconds.
"Some people couldn't even attempt to get out of the way," Soussan said. Others were struck by the car and rolled from its hood, he said.
The market occupies two blocks along Arizona Avenue in the oceanside city, bisecting its popular Third Street pedestrian promenade (search). It draws 9,000 shoppers.
Witness David Allwas told KABC-TV by telephone that he was in a nearby bank when the car plowed through the market.
"My friend was at the ATM and I heard it and I turned around and all I saw was this ... red car, just go right through the crowd, I mean there were people flying anywhere, I was shocked," Allwas said. "I had to call my parents just to get a grip."
He said the driver of the car was a man in his 70s and it looked like he might be having a heart attack.
"His arm was straight on the wheel and his body was stiff," Allwas said.
"You just have to pray because I saw this little girl get CPR and I saw this other woman who I think died," he said.
He said he saw 10 to 12 people bleeding and injured.
"I saw it right there, bam. I just missed it by a few seconds. And I was devastated, I couldn't breathe," Allwas said.
"There were people bleeding everywhere. ... There were people crying everywhere," he said.
Fox News' Adam Housley and The Associated Press contributed to this repo
One of the fatalities was a 2-year-old girl, according to the Santa Monica Police Department (search).
Firefighters and ambulances converged on the market area in the oceanside city's downtown and treated the injured in a large triage area.
Twisted market tents and crumpled boxes of produce lay smashed on the ground along the route of destruction. TV news reports showed a red car with a smashed front end and damage to its roof. What appeared to be shoes were on its roof.
Witness Rony Soussan told KCAL-TV the driver was speeding through the area.
"He just plowed through them like it was nothing," Soussan said.
Ronald Gaba, who works for Acadie restaurant on Arizona Street (search) said he was working inside when he heard screams from the sidewalk.
"During the time, there was a lot crying," Gaba said. "I came outside and saw one body covered by a cloth. I can't describe what is happening, it's something I've never seen before. I don't know who would do this kind of thing."
The incident lasted only a few seconds.
"Some people couldn't even attempt to get out of the way," Soussan said. Others were struck by the car and rolled from its hood, he said.
The market occupies two blocks along Arizona Avenue in the oceanside city, bisecting its popular Third Street pedestrian promenade (search). It draws 9,000 shoppers.
Witness David Allwas told KABC-TV by telephone that he was in a nearby bank when the car plowed through the market.
"My friend was at the ATM and I heard it and I turned around and all I saw was this ... red car, just go right through the crowd, I mean there were people flying anywhere, I was shocked," Allwas said. "I had to call my parents just to get a grip."
He said the driver of the car was a man in his 70s and it looked like he might be having a heart attack.
"His arm was straight on the wheel and his body was stiff," Allwas said.
"You just have to pray because I saw this little girl get CPR and I saw this other woman who I think died," he said.
He said he saw 10 to 12 people bleeding and injured.
"I saw it right there, bam. I just missed it by a few seconds. And I was devastated, I couldn't breathe," Allwas said.
"There were people bleeding everywhere. ... There were people crying everywhere," he said.
Fox News' Adam Housley and The Associated Press contributed to this repo
