The Ford pickup
truck slammed through the meat and pharmacy entrance of the
store in Pella, Iowa, about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines,
shortly before 10 a.m. local time, said Sergeant Nathan Ludwig
of the Iowa State Patrol.
"There are three confirmed fatalities within the store. At this
time it doesn't appear to be an intentional act," Ludwig said,
adding that the driver had been hospitalized for injuries
suffered in the crash.
A second person also sustained injuries, he said.
Ludwig said an investigation was underway to determine the cause
of the accident and that the names of the deceased were being
withheld pending notification of next of kin.
"We're heartbroken by what appears to be a tragic accident,"
Wal-Mart spokesman Charles Crowson said in a written statement
on behalf of the company.
"Our focus right now is on our associates, customers and
gathering information. We will continue working closely with law
enforcement and emergency responders," Crowson said.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Additional reporting by Timothy
Mclaughlin; Editing by Dan Grebler and Diane Craft)
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