Motorist crashes through downtown store

TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Employees of Walker Auto Body & Towing prepare to back a Chevrolet Impala out of the Treasure Island Thrift Shop at 105 E. Fourth St. on the Maryville square late Thursday morning after the driver crashed through a large plate glass window. The store was closed at the time, and no one was injured.

A Burlington Junction woman escaped injury late Thursday morning after inadvertently driving her Chevrolet Impala sedan through the large plate glass display window of the Treasure Island Thrift Shop, located at 105 E. Fourth St. on the Maryville square.

Maryville Public Safety identified the driver as Kay Nicholas of Burlington Junction. The cause of the accident was unavailable pending completion of a report by MPS Officer Ken Garner, who worked the mishap.

Police said the incident occurred about 11:10 a.m. The car completely shattered the window, an adjoining doorframe, and part of a low brick wall. Structural damage to the storefront appeared minimal.

Shop owner Alice Wong, who arrived on the scene several minutes after the crash, said she had closed the store in order to pick up a friend at the airport in Kansas City, and that no one was inside at the time of the accident.

“I’m so glad no one was hurt,” Wong said.

The car plowed through the window with considerable force, and an officer at the scene said the vehicle’s tires left acceleration marks on the sidewalk.

In addition to police, MPS fire division Capt. Phil Rickabaugh also responded to the scene and briefly inspected the damaged store’s interior.

The car, which sustained significant front-end damage, was removed by Walker Auto Body & Towing of Maryville.