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11 Kids Injured When 100-Year-Old Driver Crashes Near South LA Elementary School

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Fourteen people, including 11 children, were injured Wednesday afternoon when a car jumped a curb outside Main Street Elementary School.

"Acts like he's going to park, then puts the car in reverse, and comes right on the sidewalk. We lift the car up and start pulling all the kids out," according to a man outside the school.

"I was crying, and I was nervous. I didn't know what to do," said a girl in the fifth grade who witnessed the accident.

Preston Carter
(credit: CBS)

Police said they don't believe that 100-year-old Preston Carter intentionally hit the children with his blue Cadillac.

"I'm really sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on earth," said Carter, who claims his brakes failed before the accident.

Carter's family said he has a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

"He's complete of all his facilities. He get around, he lives by himself. So ain't nobody tell him he's too old to drive," Carter's relative said.

When KCAL9 reporter Dave Lopez questioned whether Carter's age might have impacted his driving, the relative responded, "I understand that, but accidents can happen to a person at 20 years old."

The victims were taken to three hospitals and two of them were listed in critical condition at County-USC Medical Center, KCAL9's Suraya Fadel reported Wednesday night.

Police said none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Main Street Elementary School was scheduled to hold an information meeting for parents at 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

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