Sisters Critically Hurt After Car Crashes Into Pa. Store

Nov. 29--Two children who were playing in the toy section of a thrift store in Maxatawny Township were critically injured when a car crashed into the store Monday, officials said.

The children, ages 11/2 and 3, were in Once Again Thrift Store, 15260 Kutztown Road, when a woman who was parking her car thought she hit the brake, but the car jumped the sidewalk and crashed into the store about 12:30 p.m., Berks-Lehigh Regional police said.

Elizabeth Zimmerman and her younger sister Emma were taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown. Both were in critical condition Monday night, hospital officials said.

The driver, an 84-year-old from Kutztown whose name was withheld by police, refused medical treatment and was driven home by a policeman.

Rick Geist, the children's grandfather, was painting in the back of the store, which opened Friday, in preparation for a grand opening planned for today.

"One of the other kids took the kids over there so I could get some work done," Geist said. "There was a crash and glass flying."

Geist and about eight other people -- all family and members of Victory Christian Center, a Kutztown church where Geist serves as pastor -- were in the store, which was set up as a nonprofit corporation to support church pantries and other charitable efforts in the Kutztown area.

The children's mother, Amanda Zimmerman of Kutztown, was working at East Penn Manufacturing Co. near Lyons, but a relative picked her up and she went to the hospital with the children, Geist said.

He said the car smashed through the front of the store and continued on a roughly 45-degree angle over the tile floor to the toy section, striking the children and coming to rest against a mirrored wall.

Elizabeth Zimmerman was hit, then slid under the car and was trapped near a front wheel, he said.

Geist said he and others in the store helped the woman out of the car, put the car in neutral and pushed it backward, freeing the girl before emergency responders arrived.

He said Emma was next to the car and also was injured.

The car was towed from the store.

An investigation continues and police asked anyone who witnessed the crash to call 610-683-8740.

Contact Steven Henshaw: 610-371-5028 or shenshaw@readingeagle.com.

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