Police: Driver says brakes failed before she crashed into bus stop

PHOENIX - Two people found themselves in the path of an out-of-control speeding car that suddenly swerved in their direction Friday morning.

According to police, a driver says her brakes failed before she crashed her car near 32nd Street and Van Buren. The car avoided hitting a gas pump, but demolished a bus stop.

"Everybody's telling me you need to go buy some lottery tickets," said Laura Smith.

Smith knows how lucky she is, as she was only about a couple of inches away from being hit head-on by the out-of-control car. Surveillance video showed the crash in slow motion.

"Aiming straight at me, and I thought it was gonna hit me," Smith recounted. "Balled up my fist and closed my eyes and said 'please Lord help me.'"

Smith;'s prayer was answered. Her electric wheelchair was hit and left with a crack on the bottom.

"The wheel is slightly off-balance, but I'm alive,

Police say the driver said she swerved to avoid rear-ending the car that was stopped in front of her, crossed all the lanes on 32nd Street, plowing into the bus stop at high speed.

A man standing in the area was also inches away from taking a head-on hit.

"I think he got out of the way just in time, but she still got a good piece of him," said witness Mike Johnson.

Police say the man suffered minor injuries, and did not need to be taken to the hospital. Witnesses are stunned.

"All things considered, I've seen a lot of injuries like this happen," said Johnson. "His injuries were minimal for this type of accident. He was very lucky."

This crash could have seriously hurt, or even killed two people. The metal bus shelter, while completely destroyed, is easily replaceable.

Police say impairment doesn't appear to be a factor in the crash. The woman's name was not released.