US driver speeds straight through car wash without stopping as employees leap aside

An elderly US driver sparked a scare in a California car wash when his vehicle sped straight through the cleaner and crashed in the car park on the other side.

Employees were helpless to stop the driver as he streaked through without pause.

One employee was caught on video chasing after him, waving for the driver to stop, while another stood in front of him and tried to wave him down before having to jump out of the way.

The car tore off the buffers as it crashed through.

When it exited the carwash it sped across the carpark before crashing to a halt against a low wall.

The driver told witnesses he had confused the brake and the accelerator.

However, he was lucky enough to walk away without serious injury.