Van Crashes Into Store Injuring Eleven After Shoplifting Heist Goes Wrong

Eleven people were injured after a man crashed his van into a store in Seattle, Washington on Monday night.

The crash occurred at 9.15 pm at the Ross Dress for Less in Burien, which is 11 miles south of Seattle.

According to the Kings County Sheriff Department, three people were critically injured during the crash, including a two-year-old child and a 41-year-old man.

Sergeant Ryan Abbott said the driver of the van was waiting in the parking lot as a woman inside the store was shoplifting.

After the woman got out of the store and got into the van, the driver allegedly took off at high speed and ended up hitting a car in the parking lot before it went through the front window of the same store.

The van went past the registers and came to a stop near the clothing section. By that time, it had already struck a stroller with a two-year-old child inside.

The stroller was pinned against items in the store. The child had to be taken out by the first responders.

A 41-year-old man and another victim believed to be in their 30s were also taken to the hospital in critical condition. Eight others were injured during the crash.

According to Abbott, seven of the injured were taken to Highline Medical Center, and one of the injured was taken to Valley Medical.

The sheriff’s office also gave differing estimates on the number of injured but settled by Monday night there were 11 of them.

Sergeant Abbott claimed the fast action of several members of the fire and police department is what helped the situation and made sure there were no fatalities from the incident.

The driver of the van, a 51-year-old man, was arrested at the scene. He was suspected of being uintoxicated with drugs. He was also charged with vehicular assault.

The woman had an unrelated warrant out for her arrest, so she was also taken into custody.

Detectives are going to review the surveillance footage and were on the scene where the van could still be seen inside the store, surrounded by glass.

The Ross store typically closes at 10 pm, though it was scheduled to remain open until past 1 am, because of holiday shoppers.

Employees have also declined to speak with media houses until the outcome of the investigation involving the shoplifters.