Emergency services were called to the scene about 9.05am after the woman's Toyota Corolla was rear-ended by a truck pulling out from Nichol's Garden Centre. She responded by accelerating, turning left sharply and driving into the office.
Sergeant Anthony Bond said an investigation into the matter continued and no charges had been laid yet.
``It appears she hit the accelerator instead of the brake,'' he said.
``He [the truck driver] has failed to stop short and hit a car that was in front of him.''
The Corolla's driver was taken to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance and underwent a scan after complaining of neck and back pain.
She reported being sore and suffered ``probable whiplash'', Sgt Bond said.
It was a lucky escape, however, and could have been much worse, according to witnesses at the scene.
``It could have been very serious,'' one said.
``There's a lot of foot traffic coming into that front door [of VTNZ].
``To be honest it was lucky someone wasn't injured or killed.
``She accelerated across the car park at full acceleration.''
Customers had walked out the front door of the office shortly before the crash, witnesses said.
The car hit the office with such force the Fire Service was required to free it from the building.
Firefighters from St Kilda and Lookout Point attended, as did paramedics from St John.
Station officer Calvin Harradine, of St Kilda, said the woman was not trapped in the vehicle but it had to be winched backwards before paramedics could assess her.
A St John spokesman said the woman was taken to Dunedin Hospital's emergency department with minor injuries.
VTNZ market development manager Sarah Garvin said all warrant of fitness work was transferred to VTNZ's Hanover St office yesterday following the crash.
Teviot St staff were relocated to that office to assist with the extra load.
Driver testing was still being conducted out of Teviot St, she said.
The Teviot St office was expected to be open ``business as usual'' today, she said.
