TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — A distressing incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon when a vehicle slammed into pedestrians at the entrance of a Safeway grocery store located in Truckee, a picturesque mountain town in California. According to local police reports, four individuals sustained injuries, including children. Fortunately, their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Authorities disclosed that the driver, a 49-year-old man from Coalinga—a city in the San Joaquin Valley—intentionally drove into the pedestrians and the store. This aggressive act created an atmosphere of chaos and panic among shoppers and witnesses present at the scene.
Scotty Mathewson, 39, was shopping with his wife when the unfortunate event occurred. He recounted hearing a loud crash followed by frantic screams. As his wife called 911, Mathewson sprang into action, assisting others in checking for anyone trapped beneath the wreckage or the pickup truck. Notably, a boy's baseball team was hosting a fundraising table outside the store, and Mathewson witnessed parents frantically attempting to locate their children amid the confusion.
Describing the stark reality of the situation, Mathewson reflected, “We see things in the news, and we watch things on YouTube or TV and stuff, but it’s all removed. At least for me, this is the first time that it’s palpable.” His sentiments illustrated the gravity of the incident, emphasizing how it struck a personal chord compared to distant media portrayals of violence.
Moreover, Mathewson detailed that other pedestrians and shoppers shouted at the driver, attempting to open the vehicle's doors, which were unfortunately locked. He observed that the driver remained “calmly sitting” inside the vehicle until law enforcement arrived minutes later to detain him.
Following the incident, the 49-year-old driver was charged with several offenses, which included assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, and violation of probation. Subsequently, he was taken into custody at a correctional facility located in Nevada City. This city serves as the seat of Nevada County and is roughly an hour's drive from Truckee, situated over a 7,000-foot mountain pass.
As of Saturday evening, there was no information regarding public representation or an attorney listed for the driver involved in the incident. The community in Truckee, which boasts a population of approximately 17,000 residents, is acclaimed for its exquisite winter landscape and is in close proximity to Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake. February typically draws crowds to the area, as it is a prime time for winter sports activities, including skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
