A man just shy of his 101st birthday backed his Cadillac up on the sidewalk and hit 11 people, including nine children, near a South Los Angeles, Calif., elementary school Wednesday afternoon.

Four people were taken to hospital in critical condition. Four children were pulled from underneath the car, witnesses told local station KCAL9. They are all expected to survive.

Preston Carter, the driver, was apologetic when interviewed by reporters on scene after the crash.

"I'm really sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on earth," he told KCAL9. He said his brakes failed.

Police said the man has a valid driver's licence.