Truck drives into Wal-Mart

MONTROSE — A white Ford F-150 smashed through the north entrance of Wal-Mart shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday, hospitalizing at least four people and injuring several others.

The truck's driver was a 58-year-old unidentified male that may have suffered from a medical problem prior to driving into the building, police said. The car crashed through the entrance, into the jewelry department and stopped at the photo department.

Two victims of the crash were identified as female Wal-Mart employees in their 60s. One suffered from a head injury and the other from a back injury. A fourth victim was also identified a 50-year-old female.

All injuries in the accident were not believed to be life threatening and all the victims were in stable condition as of press time, police said.

The truck's accelerator was floored by the time it struck the front entrance doors, said witness Donna Boyle. She added that another eyewitness claimed to have seen the driver sitting back on his seat with his mouth agape.

Another witness, Pam Keeton, said the truck was stopped at the intersection facing the entrance before "it just took off."

"I was parked right behind the lady — it was either a lady or a man with gray hair and they slumped over and their foot must have — their leg must have stiffened up and went right through the door," said Keeton.

Skid marks leading between two of the red barricades in front of the store passed through what remained of two pairs of sliding doors.

 "It all happened so fast — I think there was maybe two ladies standing out here waiting and they — I think it just flew by them and there was an older lady that collapsed right there so I dont know if it nipped her or if anything," Keeton said.

Two engines and three ambulances were dispatched, said Montrose Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Allen Weese. He said MFPD took incident command expecting a "mass casualty incident" of more than 10 injuries, but that fortunately the scene wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"Obviously on a Saturday afternoon it could have been much worse than it was," Weese said.