Speeding Car Crashes Through Bus Stop and Overturns Into McDonald’s Drive-Thru in Gardena, California
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA — Two people were injured early Friday morning after a car plowed through a bus stop and flipped over into a McDonald’s drive-thru lane in Gardena, according to police and witness accounts. The dramatic crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. near 850 Rosecrans Avenue, leaving debris scattered across the fast-food restaurant’s parking area.
Car Flips After Smashing Through Bus Stop
Officers with the Gardena Police Department said they arrived at the scene to find a white sedan overturned in front of a McDonald’s restaurant. Witnesses reported that the vehicle had been traveling at a high rate of speed before striking a bus stop bench, sending it flying several feet, and then rolling over multiple times before coming to rest upside down in the drive-thru lane.
The impact caused significant damage to both the bus stop and surrounding shrubbery near the restaurant entrance. Surveillance video from nearby businesses is being reviewed to confirm the vehicle’s speed and path prior to the collision.
Two People Treated for Minor Injuries
Paramedics responded quickly and treated two people for minor injuries at the scene. Authorities have not released the names of those involved but confirmed that no pedestrians were struck during the crash. Police noted that the driver appeared conscious and alert following the rollover.
Officers are still determining whether speeding, impairment, or distracted driving contributed to the accident. “It’s fortunate no one was waiting at the bus stop at the time,” one officer at the scene told local reporters.
Witnesses Describe Scene of Chaos
Several witnesses told reporters that the vehicle was swerving through traffic moments before impact. One resident who lives near the McDonald’s said they were awakened by the sound of “metal crunching and glass shattering.”
“I heard a loud bang and then saw the car upside down in front of the McDonald’s drive-thru,” said a nearby worker who had been closing for the night. “It’s a miracle no one was seriously hurt.”
Investigation Ongoing
The Gardena Police Department continues to investigate the crash, and the area near the McDonald’s remained partially closed for several hours as crews cleared debris and assessed structural damage to the bus stop and restaurant property.
No arrests have been made at this time, and police have not confirmed whether citations or charges will be filed pending the results of their investigation.
Residents are urged to exercise caution when traveling along Rosecrans Avenue, a corridor known for high-speed traffic incidents.
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