Car crashes into shop counter

A car smashed into Centamax Superette, injuring a shopkeeper. Photo / George Novak

An elderly man parking at Papamoa's Fashion Island lost control of his car and careered through the front entrance of a superette, injuring a woman working behind the counter.

Emergency services were called to the Centamax Superette on Gravatt Rd, about 1.30pm yesterday.

Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said the driver, in his 80s, was parking adjacent to the superette when, for some reason, he put his foot on the accelerator, sending the car straight through the front of the shop.

Mr Hunter said the car hit the shop front door on its way through, then ricocheted off and struck the front counter, pushing it back and injuring the shopkeeper standing behind it.

Centamax Superette owner Rupinder Gill, who also owns Papamoa Liquor Centre, said he was working in the liquor store when he saw the car mount the pavement and smash into the superette.

"It gave me a very big fright, because I knew my wife was working inside the shop. It all happened so very quickly. I could heard the car tyres screeching, then a loud bang and lots of glass breaking. When I ran over, there was a large amount of smoke inside the car and through the shop, and my injured wife was lying on the floor."

Mr Gill said he was relieved no one was killed.

"But my wife's leg might be broken," he said.

Mr Gill said a safety bollard needed to be installed to prevent a similar incident happening again.

The car's driver and his wife in the front passenger seat managed to get themselves out of the vehicle, which sustained minimal damage, said Papamoa fire brigade Chief Fire Officer Allan Bicker.

Mr Hunter said the shopkeeper was taken to Tauranga Hospital for treatment for a gash on her leg.

The driver of the vehicle, who walked to the ambulance, and his shocked wife were also taken to Tauranga Hospital for a check up. St John Ambulance, firefighters and police were at the scene for about 90 minutes, and fire crews helped open up the shop entrance to gain access to the car.