Woman reverses car into RSA building

BY JARED MORGAN

A 79-year-old Lumsden woman reversed her car through a window at the Gore RSA yesterday, sending tables and chairs flying, before spinning to a stop on the dance floor.

Acting Sergeant Martin Cupit, of Gore, said emergency services were called about 10.30am after the woman drove into the RSA car park, went to reverse into a park and mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

Her Mazda Familia smashed into the building through a large window, demolishing its brick sill, before cutting a swath of destruction through dining tables and chairs inside, he said.

"She actually made it about 10 metres into the building and ended up on the dance floor."

The driver was checked at the scene by St John Ambulance officers and, while shaken, was uninjured, Mr Cupit said. "It's the first accident she's ever had."

The driver, Sheila Baytopp, said she had until yesterday prided herself on an unblemished driving record. "I'm absolutely ashamed of myself."

She struggled to explain how she had made such a "huge mistake".

"It all happened in a matter of seconds." She was thankful she was the only person involved.

Gore RSA manager Graeme Soper said he was in another room when the crash happened.

"I never even heard the bang."

But the impact of the crash left him shocked. "I went `holy hell' – it was just unbelievable mate ... every pane of glass in that bay window had shattered, tables and chairs were everywhere ... there's skidmarks on the carpet."

One of his staff members was sitting in the front of the car comforting Mrs Baytopp by the time he arrived in the room, Mr Soper said.

While thankful she was uninjured, the timing of the crash had also averted potential disaster, he said.

"It's just so lucky it was that hour of the day – imagine if we'd been full."

The Gore Fire Service had the car out of the building by 10.45am, allowing the cleanup to begin, he said.

The cost of the damage was still being assessed yesterday but would be substantial when the window, its surrounding structure and furniture, carpet and a damaged room divider were all tallied, Mr Soper said.

However, after the room was sealed off and made secure, the bistro was to open to diners as usual last night, he said.

Meanwhile, the RSA was also looking ahead to prevent the same thing ever happening again, he said.

Possible changes could include installing bollards in the car park.

A name change for the room was also a possibility, Mr Soper said.

"I'm seriously considering calling the room the Familia Room."

 

- © Fairfax NZ News