Car wrecks market's storefront in Massena

MASSENA — When she started her shift at the South Main Street Mountain Mart early Thursday, Karina Gibson was not expecting to have to dodge moving vehicles from her post at the checkout counter.

But that's what she and one of her customers did when a Chevy Impala came crashing through the entrance of the store.

Shortly after 6 a.m., the vehicle, driven by 56-year-old Penelope O'Brien, Norfolk, ran over the sidewalk, burst through a set of glass doors and came to rest in front of a beer display near the registers.

Witnesses said there was no warning before the car entered the building.

"I was just ringing out a customer and then there was a car in the building," Ms. Gibson said. "It just crashed in. We didn't really see it coming at all."

According to Massena village police Officer Edward J. Clary, Ms. O'Brien recently had purchased the vehicle. She told police the car's accelerator stuck, sending the vehicle through the front of the building.

No one was injured in the crash.

"I think we were all a little bit shocked," Ms. Gibson said. "It wasn't one of those things you actually think would happen, like it only happens on reality shows or something."

The impact knocked out part of an interior wall and destroyed a set of doors at the front of the building. Police said their investigation continues. No tickets yet have been issued.