Two people were taken to hospital yesterday afternoon after a senior driver’s vehicle crashed into the side of a petrol station.

Anthony Pettit, 83, said that he was having his car refuelled at the Rubis East Broadway Service Station in Pembroke when his car suddenly “accelerated” and struck the building.

Mr Pettit said: “This is the first accident I’ve ever had in fifty-something years.”

He was speaking after his wife and an employee of the service station were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mr Pettit said he and his wife had gone to the petrol station at about 1pm to refuel and get the tyres checked for any air leaks.

He said that he made his way for the road once his car had been serviced when it suddenly sped up and crashed into the wall.

Mr Pettit said that his wife, who was inside the vehicle, later complained about chest pains and was transported via ambulance to receive care.

He added that he felt fine, but admitted that he was “embarrassed” and called the incident “very unnerving”.

Mr Pettit said: “I hate to have been the cause of any grief.”

Police and other emergency personnel were called to the service station at about 1.20pm.

A police spokesman confirmed that an employee inside the building was injured and taken by ambulance to receive treatment.

The spokesman could not speak to the extent of her injuries, but it is understood that the woman’s foot required treatment.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.

The owner of the service station said that further assessments on the building had to be done before determining when the station would be reopened.