Two women remain in hospital after an elderly driver’s four-wheel drive mounted a footpath and hit diners outside a cafe on Tasmania’s north coast.
The Toyota LandCruiser struck people seated outside Shearwater Food Co on Club Drive at 6:40pm on Sunday, before crashing into the building and hitting a staff member inside.
A 26-year-old diner and the 29-year-old staff member have serious injuries but are both in a stable condition.
Tasmania Police Inspector Michelle Elmer said it was lucky no-one else was seriously hurt.
“Initial investigations indicate that this was not a deliberate action,” Inspector Elmer said.
The 26-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to the Launceston General Hospital. The staff member was taken to the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie.
A 60-year-old man who was dining outside was also taken to the North West Regional Hospital and has since been discharged. A 26-year-old man with the group was treated at the scene.
Inspector Elmer said police believed the driver was parking when the vehicle went over the footpath.
“[The vehicle] wasn’t [moving] at road speed. However, it was still significant enough to cause the injuries and hit the building,” she said.
She said the cause of the crash was still under investigation.
Police said the driver was assessed by paramedics at the scene and had no serious injuries, but was taken to hospital for further checks.
His male passenger was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Inspector Elmer said the driver had been tested for alcohol and drugs and the results were yet to come back. No charges have been laid.
The front of the building was badly damaged and the cafe remains closed, with an area around the shopfront cordoned off.
Police are still working to establish how many people were inside the cafe at the time.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is urged to contact police on 131 444.
