Car Crashes Into Terminal At LAX Injuring 3 People, Including 7-Year Old Girl

A 7-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition today with injuries she suffered when a 67-year-old Los Angeles man driving a new sports sedan lost control and struck her before crashing into a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, injuring himself and his passenger, authorities said.

LAX issued the following statement:

"At approximately 5:00pm Los Angeles Airport Police responded to Terminal 7, departure level for a Traffic Collision. A vehicle drove into the terminal (external utility room and stairwell) and there are reports of injuries to three individuals. LAFD have treated the injured. Three victims were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment. Traffic is being redirected. The investigation is ongoing and the structural integrity of the breached wall is being evaluated."

The accident occurred around 4:50 p.m. Sunday at Terminal 7 on the upper, departure level of the airport, said Sgt. Elizabeth Ellis of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Traffic Division.

The driver was apparently not used to his 2015 Porsche Panamera and hit the gas and not the brake pedal while attempting to park along the curb to drop off a passenger at the United Airlines terminal. He accelerated at low speed, jumped the curb and hit a 7-year-old girl standing on the sidewalk with her family, Ellis said.

"The Porsche continued across the sidewalk and collided with the Terminal 7 building," she said.

The girl was transported by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to a UCLA medical facility in Westwood, where she was expected to survive. The Porsche driver and his passenger were treated for moderate injuries.

"There was no indication of any crime and the driver was not under influence of any substance," Ellis said."It was an unfortunate accident."