Mistaking the gas pedal for the brake, a 16-year-old Valrico teen plowed into the Hess gasoline station and convenience store at Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest Road on Sunday, Oct. 6, causing one woman complaining of neck and back pain to be transported to Brandon Regional Hospital.
The woman reportedly was in the store when she was pushed out of the way of the vehicle being driven by Andrew Burbridge, 16, of Valrico, who was being taught to drive by his father, and passenger, John Burbridge, 54.
'There were customers in the store at the time, however no one was struck by the vehicle," according to the report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "A man received a scratch on his arm from a soda display stand and a female was transported to Brandon [Regional] Hospital complaining of neck and back pain from falling when she was pushed out of the way by the male who was scratched on the arm."
Damages were estimated at about $6,000 to the vehicle, a 2005 Toyota Camry, and $5,000 to the store.
The teen drive was cited for no valid driver's license; his father, for permitting unauthorized driver.
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