Multiple agencies are involved after a driver crashed through Park Royal’s Whole Foods store during the lunch rush.
According to West Vancouver Fire & Rescue assistant Chief Garrith Michael, the incident happened just after 11:30 a.m. June 9 when a driver of a black BMW accelerated through the staff entrance at a “high rate of speed.”
“It's about 40 feet into the building, specifically the produce section,” he said.
Michael couldn’t speak to the specifics, but he said B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics took one woman to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Considering the time of day, a lot of people were very lucky,” he said. “Several were treated on scene for shock. It's not something you see every day.”
The driver, a man in his 80s, was taken to hospital as a precaution.
West Vancouver Police Department is now investigating the incident.
"While it is unknown what the driver was doing at the time of the incident, he managed to drive into the grocery store, turn left and take out half of the produce department," a release from the department stated Friday evening.
Getting the vehicle out of the store was “proving to be logistically challenging,” Michael added. Eventually, they were able to drive the BMW out of the store.
Witnesses told the North Shore News it appears the driver stepped on the wrong pedal before going through the staff entrance, followed by another wall.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call West Vancouver Police at 604-925-7300 quoting police file 23-7148.
The store re-opened around 3:30 p.m.
Whole Foods in West Vancouver now has drive through? pic.twitter.com/hBTRs4SqKx
— Greg Didur (@didur_greg) June 9, 2023
Whole Foods in #WestVan is closed until 4pm due to an ongoing staff meeting prompted by an incident. Check out the visible door damage caused by a car collision. pic.twitter.com/2Fmd4btCQt
— Mark Teasdale ★ (@MarksGonePublic) June 9, 2023
