Windsor woman pinned by car after it jumps curb in parking lot

A Windsor woman was critically injured at a Lakewood Drive strip mall when a motorist jumped the curb and pinned her against a wide support post, apparently mistaking the accelerator for the brake as he attempted to park his car on Thursday.

Witnesses said the woman, identified as 36-year-old Windsor resident Janine Faloni, was screaming as the alarmed driver froze behind the wheel of his car for what one man thought was several minutes, leaving the woman pinned, the front car fender pressed against her abdomen.

“He didn't back off until at least three minutes,” said Thomas Jones, the manager at nearby Papa Murphy's pizza.

Police identified the driver as Conrado Fernandez, 80, of Windsor. They said he was not hurt in the collision and that he is cooperating with the investigation.

Windsor Police Sgt. Rob Gordon said Faloni was pinned temporarily but said he believed it was for a much shorter time. He said Fernandez eventually backed up and off the curb, freeing her.

Gordon said Faloni suffered critical injuries to her lower extremities. She was transported by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hosptial for further medical treatment.

“It's such a horrible accident, a freak accident,” Gordon said.

Jones said he was walking toward Raley's just ahead of the woman when he heard the sound of the car pushing her against the post in front of Little Caesar's Pizza and Yinkeng Restaurant.

Numerous merchants and other shoppers came to her aid, trying to keep her calm as she lay on the sidewalk awaiting help, he and others said.

Fernandez stood by, clearly upset.

“He looked shaken,” said Mitzi Giron, who works at the Radio Shack a few yards away.

“It was sad,” Jones said. “He stood there the whole time.”

Giron said a younger couple arrived some time after the accident to drive him home.

Faloni's husband also arrived to wait with her while emergency medics attempted to stabilize her, Gordon said.

Staff Writer Derek J. Moore contributed to this story.