GIRL, MOM INJURED.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

NEWHALL - A mother and daughter attending services at a Newhall church were injured Sunday after a man lost control of a car and backed into the main entrance of the building, officials said.

The mother believed to be in her early 40s and the 10-year-old child were transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released following the 10 a.m. crash at Church of the Good Samaritan, 22603 13th St. in Newhall.

Living adjacent to the church, the 20-year-old man was moving his father's car from one side of the street to another when he lost control of the vehicle and smashed it into the church, knocking down the mother and daughter, who had been standing by the front door, officials said.

``They opened the door because they heard the screeching tires and heard the engine accelerating,'' said Sgt. Ron Olfert of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station. ``They tried to get out of the way but it was too late.''

Authorities said the man told them the engine of the mid-size car was racing and it just got away from him when he put it into the reverse gear.

The car backed through a chain link fence before crashing through the double doors of the church.

``It was probably lucky that more people weren't hurt,'' Olfert said.