Several escape injury in WW Post Office accident

[Wrightwood]

At approximately 4:30 this afternoon a 90 year old resident of Wrightwood, Ellen Weber, drove her Subaru Forester through the front wall of the Wrightwood Post office.



Postal clerks Cherise and Becky were both working the counter with about six patrons in the lobby when they saw the front wall start to buckle in towards them. Then just “really fast”, the car came through.



Patrons scrambled when the front of the car started to push through the wall. One of the customers, Elenor Brophy, was spared from injury by a cabinet that was pushed into the front counter, creating a small corner of space. Her shoe was torn off in the accident but she received no other injuries.



Allene Lenau was struck by the car, which fortunately never contacted her or the counter with full force. Paramedics from Medic Ambulance 101 and Engine 10 immobilized her as a precautionary measure. Capt Wayne Bennett from Station 101 said he thought her injuries were minor, but she was being transported to the hospital for a thorough examination, her husband John arrived on the scene very quickly and was at her side as paramedics examined her.





A witness, Shelly Hanson, reported that it appeared the driver stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, driving over the concrete parking bumper and continued to step on the gas as she drove through the wall. This seemed to be confirmed by Mr. Brophy who was in the Post Office with his wife and tried to reach into the car to shut it off as the engine continued to race.

The temporary Officer in Charge of the Post Office, Sharon Gregory, said the Post Office will be open tomorrow to serve customers. Sharon has been with the the  Postal Service 16 years, and worked at the San Bernardino Post Office when a car drove into it.



The Post Office building, is owned by Jeff Steinman, who came by to inspect the damage. Since the accident occurred just before 5:00 PM, many residents were stopping by to pick up their mail. In the best tradition of “through rain, and sleet, and snow, and cars in your lobby” Cherise and Becky were doing an amazing job of getting patrons served in spite of the activity going on around them.

This could have much worse, Cherise said the lobby had been very busy all day and it’s fortunate there were not more injuries.



Story and photos by Clint & John

[Royce]

Notice the "keep the mail safe" poster in the background

[AntiFltLndrs]

This comment maybe met with some criticism , but I find this as another good example to why the elderly need to be tested every year, regardless if a medical condition may have been a contributing factor. I am so thankful no one was seriously injured.  I feel bad for the driver and for the people in the Post Office they are all victims of a system gone wrong.  

[easteregg]

This comment maybe met with some criticism , but I find this as another good example to why the elderly need to be tested every year, regardless if a medical condition may have been a contributing factor. I am so thankful no one was seriously injured.  I feel bad for the driver and for the people in the Post Office they are all victims of a system gone wrong.  

I have to agree with you, AFL. I even wonder why we all get so many automatic renewals of our licenses, regardless of age. It's so fortunate that no one was hurt!

[Stitches]

I share the same opinion.   However, I'm sure that the AARP would fight you every step of the way saying that it could have happened to anyone and younger people have been know to do sillier things like roll SUVs.    

I too am glad to hear that no one was seriously injured.  I was on the way out of town at 4:45 and wondered what was going on at the hardware store.   I didn't realize that someone gone through the wall at the post office.     I pulled over on Highway 2 to let Westbound ambulance and two more firetrucks.  I was in the post office  in the early afternoon to pick up the mail so that if it snowed tomorrow, I'd have it cleared out.

Does someone have to secure the post office some way?    I'm sure there are valuable packages in the back.    What a sendoff for Jim.   Read in the Mountaineer Progress that he was retiring.

[Wrightwood]

Capt Wayne Bennett from the Wrightwood Fire Department was preparing materials to board up the hole after the vehicle was removed.

[Freighthauler]

This comment maybe met with some criticism , but I find this as another good example to why the elderly need to be tested every year, regardless if a medical condition may have been a contributing factor. I am so thankful no one was seriously injured.  I feel bad for the driver and for the people in the Post Office they are all victims of a system gone wrong.  

DITTO

[Nolena]

Any updates on the injured or the driver?

[Big_Daddy]

I was inside checking my mail when I heard this amazing crashing sound.  My box is straight in and I walked around the corner, thinking the roof collapsed, imagine my horror  when I realized someone drove into the lobby.  Only seconds before did I walk in, glance to the left to see if anyone I knew was in there, notice that there were a lot of people in the lobby at one time, not used to there being more than 2 people.  I was horrified, I've spent 4 years in the Marines and have never seen a site quite like that one.  The thought that things could have been so much worse because I have 3 girls that I usually take inside with me, if I get a yellow card, I let them take it in.  Sobering thought about how no matter what you do to protect yourself and your kids, it only takes one mistake by someone to drastically alter your life.  I hope the 2 people that were hurt yesterday are ok.

[snwbnny]

I have to say that pressing on the gas instead of the brake is a really common incident. I've done it (granted I was an unlicensed teen), friends have done, my grandma did it recently, etc etc. And once you have ur foot on the pedal and the car doesnt stop, the first thought is that the brakes are not working and you press harder, of course making it worse. So I do epathize with the driver. I'm glad noone was seriously injured and that it wasn't a busier time at the post office.

[Wrightwood]

John Lenau says that his wife Allene spent the entire night and most of today at the hospital running a battery of tests. Allene has no broken bones or stitches.

John and Allene want to thank everyone for their concern and the rapid response by the Fire Department.