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Bradenton, FL - A driver is recovering after a car struck a Bradenton shopping plaza, prompting an emergency response and the temporary evacuation of a nearby restaurant.
The crash happened Sunday at Cortez Village Plaza, located at 6670 Cortez Road West, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
Police and Bradenton Fire Department crews responded after a car traveled into one of the buildings at the shopping center.
Images from the scene showed a black Buick Verano lodged inside a damaged storefront while first responders worked around the vehicle and building.
The driver was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Police described the person’s injuries as non-life-threatening.
Authorities did not publicly identify the driver or provide additional information about the person’s condition.
The business struck by the vehicle was closed when the collision occurred, police said.
No employees or customers were reported inside that storefront at the time.
As a safety measure, emergency personnel evacuated a restaurant located near the damaged business.
Authorities did not report any injuries among patrons, restaurant employees or other people at the plaza.
Officials have not disclosed how the vehicle entered the building or whether speed, mechanical trouble or a medical emergency may have contributed to the crash.
The sequence of events leading to the collision also remains unclear.
Bradenton police said the cause is under investigation.
No arrest, criminal allegation or traffic citation had been announced in the information released by authorities, so there was no suspect arrest report available for comparison.
Additional details, including the estimated cost of the structural damage and whether the affected businesses can reopen immediately, were not released.