The Community Blood Center closed early Friday after a donor accidentally drove her vehicle through a front window at the center, 1410 Kasold Drive.

No one was hurt, said Kathy Belanger, a recruiter for the center.

John King of Kennedy Glass takes apart what is left of a window at the Community Blood Center at 1410 Kasold Drive. A car punched through the window Friday after the driver accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.

“We just felt bad for the driver,” she said. “She was coming to help save lives. We’re hoping she’s OK.”

It was about 12:45 p.m. when Cathy Waller, the driver, arrived to donate blood. Belanger said Waller drove her car into what is usually used as a waiting room. No one was in the room at the time.

“It was an accident,” said Tom Waller, Cathy Waller’s husband. “She just hit the accelerator instead of the brake.”

Waller said his wife wasn’t hurt but was “shook up.”

He said they had insurance, which likely would cover the damage to the building. Belanger said she couldn’t estimate the amount of damage but hoped the center would reopen Monday. A crew from a glass company was at the site Friday surveying the damage.

Belanger said closing early Friday would affect the total blood intake. The center provides blood to 75 hospitals in Kansas and Missouri, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

“It’s not a good way to end the week,” she said.

6News video: Donor crashes through window at blood center (01-21-05) Community Blood Center

The center is dealing with a blood supply shortage for Type O blood and blood platelets.

Belanger said employees called to reschedule appointments with three people and turned away another woman who came to donate.