Truck shatters Sprint storefront; wrong pedal to blame?

A truck smashed through the front end of a Sprint store, St. George, Utah, June 23, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A truck crashed through the glass windows of a Sprint storefront late Monday afternoon causing approximately $20,000-$25,000 worth of damage. No injuries were reported but the driver was cited for negligent collision.

Just before 5 p.m., the driver of a white Toyota Tacoma was pulling up to park in front of the Sprint store, located at 1156 E. 700 South in St. George. The woman driving the vehicle stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake and crashed through the glass storefront, St. George Police Sgt. Wade Johnson said.

St. George resident Dex Taylor was on his way to the Sprint store, heard the tires screeching and approached the crash. “The first thing I thought was that with that much impact they had to have come fast across the road,” Taylor said, “but there were no tire marks.”

Taylor said once he stuck his head into the store to see if anyone needed an ambulance, he observed the truck’s tires still spinning.

“Sometimes people forget to let off the gas,” Johnson said.

After St. George Fire and police officers cleared the scene, they estimated that there was $20,000-25,000 worth of damage.  The damage included broken glass and three floor tiles that were pulled up, as well as damage to the front desk and an Android cell phone display that was hit by the front bumper of the truck.

The tempered glass is designed to shatter into trillions of pieces to prevent severe injuries that would ensue from larger shards, Johnson said.

The woman’s child was also in the Tacoma but no one was injured. The truck had to be towed from the scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by responders on scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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10 Comments

  • Christine June 23, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    Man, they are so lucky there was no one in there! that place has always been packed whenever I’ve gone!!

  • Alvin June 23, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    Maybe she dropped a water bottle? Seems to be the theme lately.

  • Mark June 23, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Another business in that same complex had the same thing happen a few years ago.

  • LOL'd June 24, 2014 at 12:47 am

    driver probly had a seizure. if not that, probly a retard and should never have been driving…

  • drivershaming June 24, 2014 at 4:32 am

    I sure hat when those pedals swap places…
    http://drivershaming.com

    • drivershaming June 24, 2014 at 4:32 am

      Also hate when I forget letters. 🙁

  • SSfreeze June 24, 2014 at 4:37 am

    Excommunicate her!

  • philiplo June 24, 2014 at 7:54 am

    The window shatters into trillions of pieces? Trillions? Did you count them? Trillions is not a generic word meaning “a large number.” It is a specific word with a specific meaning. Trillions, indeed.

    • Phil June 24, 2014 at 9:11 am

      How about grundles? Or s&!t load? Or that there is a lot of dang glass? I bet your desk is very organized.

  • EL JEFE June 24, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Anybody check her cell phone?

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