Car crashes into supermarket

OFF-STREET PARKING: Debris strewn around a Toyota Corolla, which was accidentally reversed into the new Countdown in Gore by its elderly woman driver.

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Construction workers and shoppers at Gore's new Countdown supermarket were forced to scramble to safety yesterday afternoon when an elderly woman driver reversed her car through a large front window.

The window had been in place for only a week, as part of the supermarket's $2 million upgrade and rebranding, and construction workers were still working above it, installing louvres.

By the time the 84-year-old woman's Toyota Corolla had stopped glass, aluminium framing and debris from the ceiling were littering the checkout area.

A woman, who narrowly missed being struck as she went through the checkout, said the car seemed to come through very fast. She barely had time to get out of the way but managed to escape unhurt, although very shaken.

For shoppers in the supermarket, the sound of crashing glass and metal seemed to go on for a couple of minutes and was followed by gasps of disbelief.

Ken "Buzzer" Thomson said he was amazed nobody was hurt. He thought the ceiling was coming down. He had been looking for a checkout when he heard something move, then the front window smashed and the car ploughed into the shop.

"I was scared somebody had got knocked (over) because there were things coming out of the ceiling," Mr Thomson said.

Staff in the store were unable to comment but were obviously relieved no-one was hurt.

A spokesman for Progressive Enterprises said the damage had yet to be assessed but the cost would be "significant".

Sergeant Craig Sinclair, of Gore, said the Northern Southland woman had been parked facing the supermarket. She backed out at speed, clipping the end of a construction workers' trailer and collecting a bench saw, before continuing through the window and into the checkouts.

The accident happened at 1.45pm and there had been a lot of people in the area. "It's very fortunate no-one was caught up in the collison."

The driver and shopper were treated at the scene by a St John ambulance. The driver did not appear to have suffered any medical incident that may have contributed to the incident.

Mr Sinclair said police had yet to speak with her and it was unknown whether any charges would be laid.

The incident is just eight weeks after a 79-year-old woman reversed through a large window at the Gore RSA, demolishing its brick sill, before cutting a swath of destruction through dining tables and chairs inside, ending up on the dancefloor.

- © Fairfax NZ News