90-year-old driver crashes into Bradenton bank, injuring three

Three bank customers were seriously injured when a driver accidentally accelerated through the front doors of a Bank of America branch in Bradenton and crashed into the bank’s lobby on Tuesday afternoon, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 1:40 p.m. at the Bank of America branch located in Bayshore Gardens Shopping Center, 6160 14th St. W., Bradenton, near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Bayshore Gardens Parkway.

A 90-year-old Bradenton man driving a Toyota sedan pulled into a parking space directly in front of the bank’s entryway, troopers say, when he inadvertently hit the gas pedal.

The Toyota crashed through the glass front doors and traveled about 75 feet into the bank before it came to a stop, according to FHP. Three customers inside of the building were injured in the crash.

A 66-year-old Palm Bay man sustained critical injuries and was transported to Blake Medical Center for care. A 57-year-old Bradenton woman was seriously injured and transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital. Another customer, an 85-year-old Bradenton man, had minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle also had only minor injuries, and his passenger, a 77-year-old Bradenton woman, was unharmed, according to FHP.

Troopers were at the scene on Tuesday afternoon as an investigation continued. Workers had begun to repair the damage to the building.

This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 6:05 PM.