Trader Joe’s Accident Reveals Caring Community Spirit

Dear Editor,

It has been noted that during a crisis, people come together to help each other out, no questions asked, no internal filter deciding what tribe they may belong to; they need help and we as a people step up.

I saw that in action at Trader Joe’s the other day. I was standing in a checkout line, content with my shopping cart of good food and treats for our weekend. I was working the Wordle puzzle on my phone, waiting for my turn to check out. Then a car exploded through the automatic exit doors, sending glass flying and plowing through the checkout stands, pushing people painfully aside in its wake. The car kept going, tires squealing as it pushed further into the store. I thought, “Is it an Attack or Accident??? I got on the phone to 911. No answer on the line. Someone else is calling. They yell out, “Is anyone trapped under the car? Someone checks and yells, “No!” The car has stopped, but now the backup lights are on! I move toward the car and the driver to intervene. Someone yells, “Tell him to turn off the car!” I see someone go to the passenger side and tell the driver, firmly yet gently, “Turn the car off.”

He does, the danger is over for now.

I look around for anyone that may need help and there, leaning over a checkout stand, a young woman clings on in pain. I ask, “Are you alright?” She says, “No, I’m hurt.” I ask, “How can I help? You want to sit down?” I help her sit down, bracing my leg behind her so she can lean back a bit. I notice she’s barefoot with broken safety glass all around, one sandal lying a few feet away in a scatter of chocolate bars and gift cards. She’s crying, in shock, I ask, “Do you want to lie down? Where are you hurt?” She lies back, then quickly employees bring over flat cardboard to cushion her back against the hard floor. Someone else brings over some of those insulated reusable bags as a pillow and I ask them to get others to cushion under her the back of her knees. I console her, “You’re going to be alright. The ambulance is coming. I’m gently holding her arm, kneeling by her side, asking, “What hurts?” She says, “My knees, my lower back.” An employee, a young man is there now, he asks, “Do you have a phone?” She points and he gets it off the checkout stand she had been clinging to. “Do you want to call somebody?” “My husband.” She dials him up and the employee tries to tell him what’s happened, but he’s not really making much sense. He hands her the phone and she just cries into it. I take the phone and tell him, “There’s been an accident at Trader Joe’s on Redwood Rd. A car crashed into the store. Your wife’s okay, but hurt, the ambulance is on its way.” He says, “Thanks, I’m on my way, be there in 10 minutes.”

Employees come by pushing a cart filled with frozen bags of corn and peas. We start laying them on her wounded areas, her knees and legs. Sirens now, policemen coming through, assessing who needs help. They ask her, “What’s your name? What’s your phone number?”

I hadn’t even thought to ask. An employee is using a large floor squeegee to clear away some of the debris around us.

I say to her, “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” I’m holding on her arm, and shoulder with care, now and then, I gently stroke the top of her head, “That’s good, cry, let it go. Your husbands on his way. The ambulance is here.”

Then they were there. The EMT’s stepped in, asking EMT questions, assessing her wounds, calling for a stretcher, cutting off her sweatshirt so they could work freely. I stepped back. I felt so close to her and now there wasn’t anything else I could do to help. It seemed like long ago that I had heard some manager voice call out, asking all customers to kindly leave the store. I didn’t want to leave her alone till her husband got there. But it’s not really my place. They got her now, she’ll be alright. I walked past my shopping cart, still full of good stuff and left the store. I’m not sure anyone even noticed me. Out in the parking lot, people had their phones out taking pictures. I looked back, 4 firetrucks, police cars everywhere, ambulances. I thought to take a picture, but I was still caught up in the vulnerability of it all, shocked at how quickly the daily comfort of standing in line at my favorite store, turned to chaos and people were hurt and an old man sat dumbstruck, in shock, behind the wheel of a car that crashed into people’s lives.

But through it all, people were Good. People didn’t panic or yell. People reached out to help each other in a time of need, with care and concern, both personal and later professional.

We did good people!

Thanks to Trader Joe’s people and thanks to all who helped heal the hurt and chaos, that by accident, brought us together for a moment and revealed the beauty of our community spirit.

–Alexander Palau, Castro Valley