Car Strikes Starbucks; 10 Hurt

At least 10 people were injured -- two critically -- Friday night when a car driven by an 85-year-old man crashed into patrons at a Starbucks in El Monte, law enforcement officials said.

At about 9:15 p.m., the car plowed into customers on the sidewalk patio of the coffee outlet at East Garvey Avenue and East Valley Boulevard, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

“The victims were all transported to local hospitals,” said Ed Pickett, a supervising dispatcher for the department. Pickett said the two critically injured patrons were taken to County-USC Medical Center.

The names of the victims and the car’s driver were not released, and the accident remained under investigation. Broadcast reports indicated that the driver may have hit the gas pedal instead of the brake as he pulled into the Starbucks parking lot.