11 people injured after shoplifting van crashes into a Ross, landing in the clothing aisle

Eleven people, including a toddler, at a Washington state department store were injured when the alleged driver of a getaway van plowed through the building, police say.

A 51-year-old male was arrested on DUI and vehicular-assault charges, King County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter. The passenger in the van was also arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and an unrelated warrant, the department said.

Three of the 11 people in the Ross Dress for Less in Burien, Washington, were in critical condition, the department said early Tuesday.

King County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ryan Abbott told reporters that the 2-year-old boy, struck while sitting in a stroller, was among those  in critical condition. A 41-year-old male and a person in their 30s are also in critical condition, Abbott said.

Police were called to the scene about 9:15 p.m. Monday.

Abbott said the passenger was allegedly shoplifting at the department store, which was busy during the holiday season.

After the woman got into the white van, the car sped off  and struck an empty vehicle in front of the store, Abbott said. The van "then went straight through the window and into the store, passing the registers and ending up near the clothes aisle area," Abbott said.

Abbott said fire and police personnel responded quickly. The injured went to different hospitals in the area, he said.

"It's tragic any time," Abbott told reporters. "But ... there are more people shopping right now than any other time of the year. All the stores are busy. To see a large van like this or any other vehicle come in through a store when you're just shopping, it has to be absolutely scary, and it's tragic for sure. We just hope that everybody is going to be OK." 

Salomon Mendez told KOMO News that his sister and mother were in the Ross when the van drove through and struck his sister.

"When the van got inside, she heard a big explosion," Mendez said his mother told him of the incident. "She saw glass and everything flying, people screaming, crying." 

Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller