Four Manheim Auto Auction employees were hospitalized Wednesday after an accident inside a large garage, police and company officials said.
The employees were in a reconditioning center on the auction site when the accident happened about 12:30 p.m., according to auction spokeswoman Lois Rossi.
The workers — three women and a man — were conscious at the scene and are expected to survive, investigators said.
The women were injured when a sport-utility vehicle crashed into them as they were detailing a car, according to police. They all sustained head and neck injuries, police said. The male driver of the SUV suffered arm injuries while bailing out of the vehicle, police said.
Company officials didn't discuss specifics about the incident, only confirming that four employees went to Lancaster General Hospital after the incident.
Penn Township police said the SUV crashed into the other car and workers while in reverse.
Police said accidents are common at Manheim Auto Auction because of the large work force and moving vehicles. One officer said police are dispatched there in response to accidents almost every auction day (Fridays and every other Thursday).
"Every (week) people are getting hurt over there," Officer Jason Riggle said. "But, usually it's not four at a time."
And usually the accidents are less severe, like someone's foot getting run over, police said.
Because the auction is private property, police said, the company has its own security force that investigates accidents. No criminal charges will be filed in Wednesday's mishap, Riggle said.
Company officials declined to discuss past incidents or how frequently incidents occur.
"Our primary focus is on this particular incident at this time," Rossi said. "The safety and security of our employees and customers is our highest priority."
There are about 2,600 employees at Manheim Auto Auction, located off Route 72, just south of Manheim Borough. While auctions are held twice a week at most, workers are on the 400- to 500-acre site throughout the week.
The women, two in their 20s and another age 35, were in a large garage bay used for reconditioning cars.
The SUV driver bailed out of the vehicle to warn the women to get out of the way. The warning was too late, and the SUV collided with the car's front end, also striking the workers. Manheim and Warwick ambulances transported the employees to LGH. Two of the workers were released later in the day, Rossi said.
Rossi didn't release the workers' names, saying "specific information about our employees is confidential."
"We are conducting an investigation into what occurred and will involve others in the investigation as appropriate," he said.
E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com