A car crashed into a Texas hospital´s emergency room Tuesday, killing the driver and injuring five other people, including a child with life-threatening injuries.
The car smashed into the lobby of the ER at St. David´s North Austin Medical Center shortly after 5:30 p.m., fire officials said at a nighttime news briefing.
The driver was pulled from the car and received cardiopulmonary resuscitation but died in the ER, authorities said.
The crash was under investigation and there was no immediate word on the cause but the Austin Police Department said it appeared to be unintentional.
Five other people in the ER lobby were injured. One was treated at the hospital while two adults and two children were taken to other hospitals, authorities said.
A car crashed into a Texas hospital’s emergency room on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring at least ten others, authorities said
The car smashed into the ER at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center shortly after 5:30pm, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services said
First responders work the scene after a car crashed into an emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
Austin police officers and nurses walk through the emergency room entrance where a car drove through at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
Of those transported, one child had critical life-threatening injuries and an adult had ‘serious, potentially life-threatening injuries’ while the other two victims had non-life threatening injuries, said Capt. Christa Stedman of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
Photos showed a silver sedan with a mangled front end sitting entirely inside the lobby.
Video of the incident showed several waiting room chairs in the ER destroyed before the car was pinned inside a hallway near a reception desk.
The ER was mostly clear of people when the crash happened, though staff were seen trying to get one person clear of the wreck.
You can hear car tires screeching and its tail lights are visible as the room becomes full of white smoke, with the car’s accelerator seemingly still being pressed down.
Eight patients who already were undergoing treatment at the hospital were being moved to other facilities, said Dr. Peter D. Young, chief medical officer for the hospital.
Young said the ER doors were damaged and an aquarium inside was struck, but overall the building was in good condition.
No ambulances were being accepted although the ER was still taking walk-ins who would be treated at a makeshift triage area at the ambulance bay, he added.
A tow truck loads the car that crashed into the emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center in Austin
A first responder works the scene after a car crashed into an emergency room at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
Eight patients who already were undergoing treatment at the hospital were being moved to other facilities, said Dr. Peter DeYoung, chief medical officer for the hospital
Video of the incident showed several waiting room chairs in the ER destoryed before the car was pinned inside a hallway near a reception desk
The ER was mostly clear of people when the crash happened, though staff were seen trying to get one person clear of the wreck
St. David´s North Austin Medical Center, which has a 24-hour emergency department, is described on its website as a 441-bed acute care facility that handles maternity and newborn care, other women´s health services and many other specialties, including heart and brain surgeries and robotic surgery
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter D. Young speaks to members of the press
Young said the ER doors were damaged and an aquarium inside was struck, but overall the building was in good condition
No ambulances were being accepted although the ER was still taking walk-ins who would be treated at a makeshift triage area at the ambulance bay, Young added
‘We’re hoping to kind of regroup here over the night and see where tomorrow leaves us,’ DeYoung said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a statement to X about the tragedy Tuesday night.
‘I’ve spoken with Mayor Watson about the tragic accident at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center & offered Texas’ full support,’ he wrote.
‘State personnel are working closely with local officials to ensure Austin has no unmet needs.’
‘Cecilia & I pray for the victims & their loved ones.’
St. David´s North Austin Medical Center, which has a 24-hour emergency department, is described on its website as a 441-bed acute care facility that handles maternity and newborn care, other women´s health services and many other specialties, including heart and brain surgeries and robotic surgery.