Driver Blames Pedicure Flip-Flops For Crashing Into Torrance Gym

TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — The woman, who slammed her car into a Torrance gym, blamed her flip-flops for the crash. Interestingly, some people agreed with her.

Crews Friday continued to clean up Planet Fitness two days after a car plowed through the front window and smashed through a wall, injuring several people.

Initial reports said the 75-year-old female driver may have mistaken the gas pedal for the brake when she was trying to park in a handicap parking space.

But she later told a local newspaper that was not the case. She said it was the flip-flops that caused her foot to slip off the brake pedal before she plowed into the gym, the Daily Breeze reported.

Customers are usually given the disposable foam flip flops to wear after a pedicure to prevent the nail polish from smearing.

Women CBS2/KCAL9's Amber Lee talked to said the driver's story sounds credible.

"If she did, those are really dangerous anyways to be driving with," gym member Desriee Gailes said.

Linda Garcia agreed. "I told my mom that this morning and everybody knows not to wear those in the car."

"They look really flimsy. So it's kind of hard to judge," Marissa Marinello said.

Lee went to the driver's home to get her side of the story. But no one answered the door.

Torrance police said they are still investigating the crash as an accident.

Planet Fitness says it hopes to open sometime next week.