WATERVILLE — An employee at J&S Oil on Kennedy Memorial Drive was taken to the hospital Monday morning after being struck by a driver who may have confused the gas and brake pedals while pulling in to the bay of the station for an oil change, police said.

Carolyn Bluhm, 52, of Waterville, is alleged to have stepped on the gas, pushing 28-year-old Daniel Littlefield, also of Waterville, through the door of the bay and shattering the glass door, said Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey of the Waterivlle Police Department. The accident was reported around 8 a.m.

Rumsey said Bluhm did not remember pressing the gas pedal, but that police do not believe there is anything defective about the car, a 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid.

“The car did rapidly accelerate through the garage and absent any mechanical defect, that’s kind of what we’re left to believe,” Rumsey said.

Speed and alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the accident. Littlefield was taken to Inland Hospital for a broken left leg and broken elbow, Rumsey said.

There are not expected to be any charges in the case.

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“She’s really shaken up,” said Waterville Officer Timothy Hinton, of the driver.

Jim Hayden, manager of J&S Oil, said he was not at the garage at the time of the accident and was not sure what happened. He did not have an estimate on how much the damage to the station would cost, but said the station would remain closed the rest of the day.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm

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