An elderly driver accidentally backed onto a sidewalk outside a grocery store yesterday, hitting eleven people. Nine of them were children, many of whom were in serious condition last night.

The driver, 100-year old Preston Carter, says his brakes failed when he backed out of his parking space and that he just couldn’t stop. A bystander, mother Alma Solache, said it was several seconds before Carter came to a stop. However, she thinks it was something more than a brake failure.

“He was not paying attention,” she said.

The incident occurred right after Main Street Elementary let out across the street, and several children were at the store to buy snacks. Carter says it was a horrible accident and that he has a valid driver’s license, but police Captain George Rodriguez said his age could be a factor.

“I think it was a miscalculation on his part. The gentleman is elderly,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously he is going to have some impairment on his decision making.”

Several of the victims were hospitalized, and while their injuries are serious, everyone is expected to survive.