Liz Albornoz, 39, and her friends were sitting at a table outside the North Epping eatery on Friday morning when the Holden Commodore drove into them, pinning at least two people against a wall.

She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition with stomach injuries but later died.

Paramedics treated nine others, including four who were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

"They were just enjoying a meeting together, having coffee, and they were struck by this vehicle," Detective Inspector Mark Christie said.

He described the scene of the accident as "horrendous and chaotic" for emergency services when they arrived.

"It appears that he's pulled into the parking spot and then there's been some sort of collision after that but we don't know the circumstances yet, they're still under investigation," Det Insp Christie said.

The 89-year-old driver was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and will be interviewed at a later stage.

Australian Associated Press