A Salvation Army bell ringer was seriously injured Tuesday when a car crashed into the Walgreens pharmacy in Arlington where he was collecting donations.
The car crashed into the store at 1425 Massachusetts Ave. at 12:47 p.m., Arlington police said in a statement.
The bell ringer, a 50-year-old Boston man, was pinned for several minutes under the vehicle.
An employee of a nearby service station got a jack and freed the victim, who was hospitalized with leg injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
Police said the driver, an 87-year-old Arlington man, may have mistaken the awning over the front door of the Walgreens for a drive-through window.
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He will be cited for operating to endanger, and police have filed an "immediate threat" notification to the Registry of Motor Vehicles asking for a review of his right to have a license.
Drew Forster, a Salvation Army spokesman, said the charity was saddened to hear about the accident involving the bell ringer.
"The Salvation Army family has reached out to the bell ringer and we offer our prayers for him, the driver, the store employees, and customers impacted by this accident," Forster said.
"Like many who stand at the red kettles, the bell ringer who was injured has benefited in the past from the Salvation Army's services and rings the bell at the red kettle in an effort to give back."
Globe Correspondent Trisha Thadani contributed to this report. Kiera Blessing can be reached at kiera.blessing
@globe.com.