LOS ANGELES, CA – Two people were injured Friday morning when an SUV crashed into Michell’s Donuts, a family-owned shop in Exposition Park. Miraculously, a baby in a stroller inside the store escaped unharmed.
Surveillance footage captured the vehicle smashing through the entrance of the shop, located at 3783 S. Western Avenue. The impact narrowly missed a stroller containing a baby believed to be less than a year old.
A man and a woman inside the shop were injured and transported to a hospital. The woman suffered an arm injury, while the man sustained leg fractures. Both were reported to be in stable condition, according to authorities.
“He [the man] was ordering something to go,” said Celestino Garcia, a witness who saw the aftermath. “He was trapped in the counter.”
The crash caused significant damage, toppling walls, tables, and chairs. Another customer, seated near the impact zone, fortunately escaped injury.
“I always sit right there when I come for my coffee,” said longtime customer Celerina Montes. “I feel lucky I wasn’t there, but I feel sorry for the person who was.”
The driver of the SUV, described as an elderly individual, told police they accidentally pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. The driver was not injured.
“The baby is fine, and the man who got hit is also going to be fine,” Garcia said. “I have faith. He’s still young.”
The shop suffered extensive damage, and the owner expressed concern about how the business will cope financially during the repairs. The owner also expressed gratitude that the employee serving the couple at the time of the crash was not injured.
The timeline for reopening Michell’s Donuts remains uncertain as the community rallies around the beloved local business.
