Woman drives car into post office

BURBANK — An 88-year-old Burbank woman drove her car into a post office window in the 2100 block of Hollywood Way shortly after noon Monday, leaving three inside with minor injuries, but she was not injured, police said.

Ruth Beck pulled into a parking spot outside the 2140 Hollywood Way branch, less than a mile from Bob Hope Airport, at about 12:01 p.m., when she lost control of her car, Lt. Frank Kelly said.

“The driver stated that her sandals got caught under the accelerator pedal,” he said. “Her vehicle was impounded and a mechanical inspection will be conducted.”

The woman knifed her Ford Taurus between two concrete columns and through a tall glass window 20 feet into the post office as an afternoon crowd waited in line, he said.

Cresencio Vasquez, a 62-year-old customer from Sylmar, suffered what police described as a head wound and was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center for treatment, Sanchez said.

Ha Tuan Anh, a 27-year-old postal employee, was injured during the incident. He was treated for rib pain and multiple lacerations and released at the scene, Officer Jim Peterson said.

Also injured was 34-year-old customer Kelly Turner, who was struck by debris. He was treated at the scene and released, Kelly said.

Beck, though shaken up, was not injured and was taken home by Burbank Police officers shortly after she was questioned, he said.

She was not charged with a crime but was issued a notice to be re-examined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, Kelly said.While officers investigated the crash outside the post office — studying tire treads, interviewing witnesses and treating victims — inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service pored through the shards of glass and twisted plastic inside the building.

“We are the law enforcement arm of the post office,” Inspector Renee Foscht said. “Whenever there is an incident, we come in and make sure no one gets injured [afterward].”

The federal investigators, based in Pasadena, coordinated the clean-up effort inside the building, sweeping the remnants into bins as they continued to document the scene.

Jules Gaskowitz, the manager of the branch who has worked at the location for 37 years, said this was the worst accident he has seen during his tenure at the post office.

“A couple times I’ve seen someone faint, but nothing this bad,” he said.

Gaskowitz estimates that the accident caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and was responsible for up to $30,000 in lost revenue. But despite the debris left to clean up, he expects the branch to reopen by Wednesday.

Outside, customers milled about with packages and letters in hand.

Chris Stein, an employee at Gentle Giant Studios near the post office, hoped to mail a package but was turned away by officials.

Upon learning of the incident, he said he thought about the rash of accidents involving older drivers, including a 2003 crash at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market that left 10 dead after an 86-year-old driver crashed through a barricade into the throngs of shoppers.

“There should be some sort of exam after a certain age,” he said. “But as to how old, that’s a tough call. For some, our health sustains us into old age, but not so much for others. I don’t want to start building up walls and alienating people.”