The damage from the accident is quite visible on the front wall of Express Pawn as the vehicle hopped the concrete car barrier and struck the wall, causing what was described as a “loud bang” by customers inside the store.
This interior display wall slid approximately 3-inches from the accident, stopping against a row of ceiling-mounted light fixtures.
Due to the displacement of the exterior wall, the carpeting can be seen “pinched up” at various transition points.
Car Versus Building
CAR VERSUS BUILDING accident shortly after 3:00PM today at Express Pawn & Gun in Oak Grove.
According to witnesses at the scene, a small sedan with driver and one passenger was pulling into a parking space at Express when the driver allegedly missed the brake pedal, instead pressing the accelerator and sending their car over the concrete car stop and into the front wall of the building.
Missouri Baptist Ambulance crews arrived on the scene to check over the vehicle occupants, both of whom refused treatment. Franklin County Deputies were also on the scene.
According to the store’s owner and customers present at the time of the incident, there was a “loud bang,” and the countertop that one customer was leaning against suddenly slid forward approximately 3-inches.
Based upon initial assessment, damages to the building appeared to include movement of the exterior wall at the front of the store, (photo #1); the sliding of a glass display cabinet inside and an internal display wall both approximately 3-inches, (Photo #2); and “pinching” of the carpeting due to the wall movement, (as seen in photo #3).
No injuries were reported at the scene to the vehicle’s occupants, nor anybody within the store at the time.