Footage shows a car driven by a pensioner smash into Rise Market & Bakery, in Bridport, Dorset, causing stocked shelves to go flying and leading to more than £10,000 worth of damage
A pensioner crashed straight into a bakery after leaving a car wash, with shelves full of bottles seen flying after he pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
The elderly man pulled out of the Wash’N’Drive car wash in Bridport, Dorset, and accidentally ploughed through the side wall of the Rise Market & Bakery at speed and ended up in the alcohol store room. The damage to the building and stock of hundreds of bottles of beer, wine and spirits is valued at over £10,000. There were three members of staff in the bakery and a few customers at the time but no one was hurt.
One staff member had been restocking the store room less than 30 minutes before the black Honda automatic crashed into it. The driver, who is believed to be aged in his 70s, was taken to hospital but did not suffer any serious injuries.
Nikki Craven, 49, manager and owner at Rise Bakery, said: “It happened around midday and there were three staff and a few customers in the shop.
“I think the gentleman, who was probably in his 70s or his 80s, accidentally left the car in drive and when leaving the car wash he pressed the accelerator rather than the brake and went into the side of the shop at quite a speed.
“Less than half an hour before one of the staff was restocking the room but we’re just glad that no-one was hurt. He hit the shop at some speed and there was an enormous smash. There was a strong smell of alcohol that is still here.
“There was nothing suspicious about it and the man was definitely in a state to drive. It’s just a freak accident but one of those things that happens. There were hundreds of broken bottles and smashed glass everywhere. It was probably £10,000 worth of stock.
“We didn’t know the man before the incident and haven’t heard from him since. We’re just very grateful for everyone who helped and especially for Fat Leaf for all their help in sorting things out and for getting the car out. We are going to rebuild the room and hope it can be open again in about a month.”
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “We received a report that a vehicle had collided with the Rise Bakery shop in East Road in Bridport. Officers attended with the ambulance and fire services. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.”
