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Car Crashes Into Terminal At LAX, 7-Year-Old Girl, 2 Others Injured

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —Three people, including a 7-year-old girl, were injured Sunday when a car crashed into a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel were dispatched to Terminal 7 departures following a report of a car into a structure shortly before 5 p.m.

Investigators say a 2015 Porsche Panamera struck a 7-year-old female pedestrian and proceeded to breach the stucco wall of a utility room at the terminal, a hub for United Airlines.

Three patients were transported to the hospital, according to L.A. City Fire spokesperson Brian Humphrey. The young girl, the daughter of an airline employee, was listed in critical condition Sunday evening. The 67-year-old male driver and his passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were listed in good condition.

Detectives say alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash and they believe it was an accident.

"All indications [are] saying that he probably mistook the gas pedal for the brake in the vehicle when he was dropping off a passenger here at Terminal 7, United Airlines," LAPD Sgt. Roy Ceja said.

Fire officials say the building is structurally sound.

"This building is pretty fortified, so to speak, so there is minimal damage. Although it looks like it, I don't want to consider it simply cosmetic," said L.A. City Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Armando Hogan.

Crews towed the vehicle shortly after 6 p.m., leaving one lane open for traffic.

Officials say the crash did not impact air traffic or operations.

An investigation is ongoing.

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