Multiple injuries after car crashes through church during Easter service
Multiple people were injured, some seriously, when a car crashed through the wall of a Fort Myers church during Easter services on Sunday.
Close to two dozen people were taken to local hospitals with several subjects transported as trauma alerts in serious condition, Fort Myers police said in a statment issued Sunday night.
Officers responding to a call at 7:55 p.m. at the Second Haitian Baptist Church at 3660 Central Avenue suite #13. discovered a four-door Lexus sedan had driven through an exterior wall of the church and injured multiple parishioners among the more than 200 who were attending an Easter service, offiicials said.
The vehicle had crashed through, the wall driving over several occupied pews.
“Fellow parishioners used vehicle jacks and brute force to lift the car to rescue several others trapped beneath the Lexus sedan while waiting for medics,” officials said.
“Traffic Homicide Investigator Officer Lesa Breneman’s preliminary investigation revealed the female driver and sole occupant of the Lexus entered the parking lot and reported a brake failure prior to crashing through the church wall,” the release states.
“At this point the investigation is being treated as a very unfortunate accident rather than a criminal act”, police spokesman Lt. Victor Medico said in the statement.
Additional information, including updates on the condition of those injured will be released when available, officials said.
Source: Fort Myers Police Department