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SUV Drives Into Novi Dental Office, Pinning Patient Against A Wall

NOVI (WWJ) - Three people were injured when an SUV slammed through a brick wall into a Novi dental clinic.

It happened Monday afternoon at the Ross Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry office just south of 10 Mile Road on Novi Road.

According to witnesses, it was a patient on the way in for a dental appointment — "an older woman" — who somehow lost control of her GMC Acadia and drove it into the building, pinning another patient in a dentist's chair up against a wall.

Dr. James Ross said he had just left the room before the accident happened.

"I sat up at the front and I just heard an explosion," Ross told WWJ's Jon Hewett. "I thought it was a terrorist attack...or, I didn't know. It was the loudest thing I've ever heard."

"I ran to the back," Ross continued, "and the patient was screaming, you know, 'Get the car off my legs! Put it in reverse!' And I just started pushing along with the patient."

They were able to back the SUV off of the patient, Ross said.

Also hurt were the driver and a dental hygienist, who Ross said was knocked clear across the room.

All three injured people — the female driver, the male patient, and the female hygienist — were rushed to a local hospital. Officials at the scene said that none of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

The accident happened at around 1 p.m. Crews were able to extract the vehicle from the building shortly after 2 p.m., leaving a garage door-sized hole behind.

Ross said the driver is remorseful.

"I've seen this patient for 25 years, and she's the nicest person and she was so upset," said Ross, "and screaming, 'I didn't mean to do it!' And, you know, 'I didn't mean to do this, and I'm so sorry.' And so it's just a tragic...I'm just still really shook up, I'm sorry."

It was not immediately clear what might have led to the crash. An investigation continues.

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