Full Breakdown
Glendale Preschool Crash Injures Eight Children in Accidental Vehicle Collision
8/9/2026, 2:58:59 AM
Core Event: Vehicle Enters Classroom
On Friday, August 7, a 79-year-old woman driving a black Infiniti sedan attempted a U-turn in the parking lot of Grandview House Preschool (1200 block of North Pacific Avenue). She mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, struck a parked vehicle, drove through a metal gate and collided with a classroom where a summer-camp group of 4- and 5-year-old children was gathered. Eight children sustained minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals, where they were released later that day. No adults were injured. Police detained the driver and conducted a DUI investigation, finding no signs of impairment. The driver was released without criminal charges and is cooperating with investigators.
Data & Statistics
- Injured: Eight children, ages 4-5, minor injuries.
- Driver: 79-year-old female, not affiliated with the school.
- Vehicle: Black Infiniti sedan.
- Time of impact: Just before 2 p.m.; reported around 1:54 p.m.
- School occupancy: About 60 children were in the summer camp; the exact number inside the classroom at impact was not confirmed.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian (Glendale Police): “There were no signs of DUI, no indication she was impaired.” He characterized the incident as an accident and noted the driver was cooperating.
- Glendale Police Department: Issued traffic alerts on Instagram, urging the public to avoid the 1200 block of N. Pacific Ave and to expect congestion. The roadway was reopened later that evening.
- Glendale Fire Department: Responded, examined the building’s structural integrity, and assisted with evacuations.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Vigen Hovsepyan, a passerby, described the aftermath: “The whole gate was on top of the kids… It was like in a horror movie. I was shocked.” He helped the driver out of the vehicle, noting she was “crying and scared.”
- Neighbors and bystanders removed chunks of stucco, carried children to safety, and provided first aid until emergency services arrived.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Vehicle description: Most outlets identified the crash vehicle as a black Infiniti sedan; NBC Los Angeles observed a white SUV with rear-bumper damage on the lot but did not link it to the crash.
- Number of children present: The Los Angeles Times cited roughly 60 children in the summer camp, while other sources did not specify the total enrollment, leaving the exact count inside the classroom at the moment of impact unclear.
- School reopening: No source provided a timeline for when Grandview House Preschool will resume classes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “During the U-turn, she accelerated, struck a parked vehicle in that lot, went through the gate and into that classroom…,” — Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian
- “At this time, it's been deemed an accident ... the gas pedal and the brake pedal were confused,” — Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian
- “The whole gate was on top of the kids... It was like in a horror movie. I was shocked,” — Vigen Hovsepyan
- “There were no signs of DUI, no indication she was impaired,” — Sgt. Gaik Pobokhian
