8 Injured as Car Crashes into Trader Joe’s

Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) tweeted at 4:33 pm on Thu, Sep 15, 2022: ACFD is currently on scene of a vehicle inside Trader Joes Market on Redwood Road in Castro Valley. Crews are currently assessing the building for hazards and injured persons. This is a developing situation, and more information will be released later.

Eight people including a 5-year-old child were injured after a Hayward man drove his car through the exit door at the Trader Joe’s grocery store in Castro Valley last Thursday.

Of the eight people injured, four were transported to Bay Area hospitals via ambulance. An adult employee of Trader Joe’s was among the injured taken to the hospital. The remaining four people injured declined to be taken to the hospital and were treated for injuries at the scene.

California Highway Patrol Officer Daniel Jacowitz told the Forum that none of the injuries were life-threatening.

“It’s unclear if the injuries were sustained from the vehicle or if they were sustained from flying debris as a result of the crash,” Jacowitz said.

CHP officers, Sheriff’s deputies, and Alameda County Fire personnel responded to the scene at approximately 3:40 p.m. The driver was identified as  90-year-old Raymond Ardito. Officers located Mr. Ardito seated in the driver’s seat of his gray 2005 Toyota Avalon upon their arrival. They determined that he was uninjured and that he drove the car 50 feet into the checkout section of the store while trying to park. There was no indication that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

“The driver was not arrested. He is cooperating with us and is not facing any criminal charges at this time,” Jacowitz said.

Shoppers were evacuated from the Trader Joe’s store as a precaution while emergency personnel and staff determined the extent of the damage. While the exit doors facing Redwood Road will be replaced, no gas leaks or major structural damage was sustained, the CHP said.

The store reopened to shoppers mid-afternoon last Friday.