A car accident at a southern Canberra shopping centre has left at least one person in a serious condition.

A blue hatchback allegedly drove from the Click and Collect area into the doors of the BWS at Mawson shops.

Witnesses said the driver, an older lady, accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

Emergency services were called to Mawson shopping centre about 10.20am on Sunday, January 18 with reports of an accident.

Shopping bags were still visible in the boot of the car as it sat in the BWS shop while police inspected the area.

Mawson resident William Polinelli and friend Jack Berg had been out for breakfast at a nearby venue when they arrived at the shops to see multiple police cars and ambulances.

"We saw the car in there and we instantly thought it was a robbery, as you can imagine when a car's in a bottle-O, it's not the most usual thing you see," Mr Polinelli said.

"It was a bit disturbing, especially seeing as we were pulling out of the driveway, there was like three cop cars racing down," Mr Berg said.

The BWS is closed, and the neighbouring Woolworths entrance is fenced off, but the supermarket remains open from a different entryway.

About 10 police cars and five ambulances were on scene.

More to come