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    ALCUL101

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May 8, 2007

Truck crashes through store

By Evan Belanger

Customers and employees at a local farm-supply retailer got more than they bargained for Tuesday, when a Ford Ranger pickup truck came crashing through the storefront, narrowly missing one customer and an employee.

No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. at Southern States Farm Supply, on 13th Street SW in Cullman.

According to police on the scene, driver James Dial, 76, of Hanceville simply made a mistake when his foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas as he pulled up to the building.

As a result, Dial’s vehicle pummeled its way inside the store, crashing through a plate-glass window and over a short wall. The accident caused extensive damage to the building and the vehicle.

“It was the loudest racket I ever heard in my life,” said employee Faye Nail, who walked in front of the impact point just moments before the collision.

According to Nail, a customer was struck with a flying piece of glass as a result of the initial impact, but he was not injured.

“I was just getting ready to go to lunch when it happened,” said employee Kathy Miller. “But I didn’t feel much like driving after that.”

Store manager James Thompson said, despite the accident, the store will be open during its regular business hours today, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. He also said Tuesday’s incident was the first time anyone has driven inside the store.

Wrecker crews struggled for more than an hour Tuesday to remove the truck from the storefront without causing more damage.

According to Cullman police officer Cindy Rohrscheib, who worked the scene, Tuesday’s incident is a more common occurrence than most people think.

“It was just an accident,” she said. “These things happen.”

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