1 killed, 1 injured when hit by vehicle in Stafford food pantry parking lot

STAFFORD, Texas – A Stafford grandmother was killed and another woman was injured Mondaywhen an SUV plowed into a line of people waiting to register for holiday food baskets outside a food pantry.

The crash was reported around 11 a.m. at the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry at 435 Stafford Run Road.

Stafford police said an elderly driver pulling into a parking space accelerated into the crowd, pinning the two women against the building.

“The person that was pulling into the parking spot just failed to stop, continued on into a line of people,” Stafford police Capt. Patrick Herman said.

A food bank client, Marcy DeVille, pulled up just after it happened. She said an employee told her it appeared the woman was trying to stop, but hit the gas pedal instead of the brake.

“They said what she did was the car was rolling and instead of slamming on (the) brake, she hit the accelerator,” Deville said. “To think it was going to be a little joyous holiday and, you know, that’s tragedy.”

The dead woman has been identified as Blanca Garcia, a mother of five and a grandmother. She was killed instantly. The other woman was taken to a hospital for treatment. She’s expected to survive, police said.

Garcia’s son, Robert, learned his mother was gone when a police officer came to his front door.

"I know she's in heaven. That's the only thing that keeps me strong because I know she is in heaven," Robert Garcia said.

Officials said the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene after the crash. The woman later suffered chest pains and was taken to a hospital.

The exact cause of the crash is under investigation.

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