CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said two people were injured as the result of a pickup crashing into a city grocery store Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred at Rays Food Place, located at 15930 Dam Road, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
At approximately 9:44 a.m. Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of a vehicle which had crashed into the building and had gone through into the store’s interior. Joseph said two people were reported down and possibly injured inside the business.
When officers arrived they discovered a 2005 Toyota Tundra, driven by 32-year-old Consuelo Castro, had crashed through the south side of the building and was now in the middle of the store, Joseph said.
Two persons – one a customer and the other an employee – had both been injured in the crash, he said.
Both injured persons were transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for medical treatment for non life threatening injuries.
Castro was not injured, according to Joseph.
Initially it was believed that the building was on fire as large amounts of smoke were billowing out of the building, Joseph said.
The smoke was determined to be tire burn smoke from the vehicle’s spinning tires. Joseph said Lake County Fire Protection District officials used large fans to clear the building of smoke.
A Clearlake building department official responded and determined the building had not suffered any significant structural damage, according to Joseph’s report.
The Lake County Health Department also responded to the scene. The business suffered damage to the building itself, property damage inside the business and to food products, Joseph said.
Joseph said the crash is still under investigation but drugs and alcohol are not suspected.