A car accidentally jumped the curb in front of Baltimore's World Trade Center yesterday, crashing through a ring of concrete barricades put in place in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The unplanned test of the security barricades occurred about 4 p.m. near the center's brick plaza facing East Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor. The driver, Michael Mandebaum, 56, of Bethesda, was trying to park his Volvo when he lost control and crashed into the barricades, state transportation police said.

Witnesses said the driver of the blue Volvo 740 GL suddenly accelerated, and the car jumped the curb and barreled through three of the 3,600-pound obstacles. The car made it about 10 feet beyond the barricades.

Mandebaum was treated at Mercy Medical Center for minor injuries, the city Fire Department reported.

No pedestrian was in the car's path, but many were surprised to see the Volvo -- airbags deployed -- on the sidewalk, with the front driver-side crumpled.

Authorities were investigating whether a jammed accelerator was a factor in the crash.