A startling accident unfolded in El Monte on Thursday when a driver, intending to reverse their pickup truck, mistakenly propelled it forward into Wes's Pets & Feeds, causing a chaotic yet fortuitously non-fatal scene as employees leaped to safety, KTLA reported. The crash, occurring just before 10:00 in the morning, saw a white Ford F-150 penetrating the walls of the pet store located at 4424 N. Peck Road. The establishment was afterward marked with yellow police tape and red-tagged by officials, signaling its current state as perilous to enter.
Despite the store's considerable damage and the calamity of birds suddenly set astir, no workers or customers sustained injuries, and the El Monte Police Department, alongside L.A. County Fire crews, quickly attended the scene. Owners Mario and Mabel Flores, unable to access their nearly century-old venerable building due to safety restrictions, expressed concerns over the well-being of their animals, mainly chickens and other fowl. In an interview with KTLA, Mrs. Flores conveyed their gratitude that everyone present was agile enough to dodge the incoming threat. "We are just thankful everyone was able to make it out in one piece,” Mabel said. “We did have people standing right in front. They heard the noise and were able to jump out of the way.”
Police stated that the incident didn't result in any arrests or citations following the crash, and the driver, recognized as the unintended instigator of the havoc, remained on the premises ensuring all were unharmed, an act noted by Mabel Flores during an interview with NBC Los Angeles as they affirmed, "This is very tragic, but at the same time we know that it was an accident."
The Flores' spirits were buoyed by the community's supportive response, Mabel Flores told NBC Los Angeles, "We definitely feel that the community is here with us, and that they’re going to help us get back to business as soon as possible."
