The car, a 2012 Nissan Versa driven by a Suisun City man, lurched up the sidewalk and struck or dragged at least six people before coming to a stop.
One of the pedestrians, a 49-year-old Vallejo woman who had been walking with her daughter on the busy commercial street, was killed, according to CBS News.
Two of the victims were dragged as far as 130 feet, according to Vallejo Fire Dept. Capt. Tim Boothe, one of the first responders to the grisly scene near Redwood Street.
Vallejo Police Dept. Sgt. Mike Nichelini said the 65-year-old driver waited at the scene for authorities to arrive and did not appear intoxicated.
He was not arrested.
“He seemed to have all his faculties,” Nichelini said.
“We are working to determine if this was a medical issue, or drugs or alcohol were involved,” he said.
Several local residents stopped to administer assistance before first responders arrived on the scene, CBS said.
A passing tow truck driver helped to lift the Nissan off two victims who were trapped beneath it, including the woman who died.
Authorities declined to release names of the victims or the driver.
Two injured children were taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, Calif., authorities said.
“It was an ugly, sobering scene,” said Laura Cortez of Napa, who was shopping nearby. “People were crying in disbelief.”
“It’s pretty bad,” said a worker from a nearby 99 Cents Only store.
“There are bodies all over the cement — what an awful thing to happen.”
Witnesses said the Nissan was apparently waiting for a traffic light on Sonoma Boulevard to turn green but didn’t move when the light changed until cars began honking, CBS said.
Then, the car roared to life but lurched to the right and careened across the sidewalk.
Vallejo is a small city in the northern San Francisco Bay Area that was California’s second state capital from 1851-1852.
