Car Plows Into Athens Kroger Self-Checkout, Pinning Employee; Four Injured

On the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 16, a vehicle drove into the Kroger store on Alps Road in Athens, Georgia, just a few miles from the University of Georgia campus. Photographs from the scene show a silver Toyota lodged in the self-checkout area with merchandise scattered across the floor.

Local officials say four people were injured in the crash; their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and all are expected to survive. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department described the incident as an active investigation and said the injured are receiving treatment.

Witness Account

Kroger customer Cody Johnson told local outlet 11Alive that the vehicle came to a stop roughly 25 to 30 feet from where he was standing, near the pharmacy. He said the car entered the store through a glass window beside the pharmacy and "took out the self-checkout aisles."

"I couldn't tell what was going on. When I turned the corner I saw where the vehicle had entered through the glass next to the pharmacy. It took out the self-checkout aisles," Johnson said.

Employee Pinned And Emergency Response

Witnesses reported that a Kroger employee became pinned between the vehicle, a self-checkout register and a nearby kiosk before emergency crews freed the worker. First responders treated those injured at the scene and transported them as needed.

Investigation And Company Statement

Police have not identified the driver, and the cause of the crash has not been released. A Kroger spokesperson said the company prioritizes the safety and security of associates and customers, expressed sympathy for those affected and thanked first responders for their swift actions while local authorities continue to investigate.

The store remains the focus of an ongoing probe; authorities and the grocery chain have not released additional details about any potential charges or the circumstances that led the vehicle into the building.