A woman from London faced charges on Monday after a car crashed into a Good Life fitness gym at Sherwood Forest Mall on Friday morning, leaving seven people injured.
The London Police Service charged 59-year-old Jennifer Lynn Hopper with six counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm due to the incident.
In a press release issued on Friday, LPS stated that around 7:40 a. m., a vehicle collided with the west side of the mall, hitting an area where the fitness center was situated. According to CTV, about 30 women were attending a fitness class in the Good Life gym when the crash occurred.
Police reported that seven individuals, including the driver, suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. During a press conference on Friday afternoon, LPS chief Thai Truong confirmed that the driver had serious injuries. One woman sustained “serious” injuries, while five other women’s conditions were described as “fair.”
He also mentioned that police have evidence showing the vehicle had “accelerated” into the building.
CTV noted that one woman was trapped under the vehicle after it struck. LPS updated the status of those injured on Monday to one critical, one good and one fair condition, while four out of seven injured individuals were discharged from the hospital.
Hopper was granted bail following her court appearance on Monday.
The crash site is located just steps away from The W, which is a popular residence for Western students.
Residents Jill Deng, who is studying for her master’s in statistics, and Serena Lin, pursuing her master’s in chemical and biochemical engineering, said they often visit the mall and pass by that gym almost every day.
They were both shocked by news of what happened.
“I thought it was crazy,” said Deng when she heard about the crash through social media.
Lin admitted she “felt a little bit scared at first,” but felt reassured after reading that LPS ruled out any connection to domestic terrorism.
Rishan Raj, a fourth-year biology student living at The W, mentioned he regularly goes to Good Life during school. He described the event as devastating.
“It’s really concerning for everyone’s safety in The W and people living nearby because that gym is such a common spot,” he said.
In a statement to the Gazette, Tracy Matthews, senior vice-president of experience and safety for Good Life fitness, indicated that this location will stay closed until further notice with no set timeline for reopening.
“Our first priority following this incident was and continues to be the well-being of our members and employees; our thoughts remain with everyone who was affected,” she said.
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