Published: September 05, 2008 09:11 am      

Car crashes into ice cooler, store

PICAYUNE — A car carrying four juveniles crashed into the K & T Texaco on U.S. 11, destroying the ice cooler out front and cracking the brick wall behind it.

No fatalities were reported to have occurred as a result of the accident, but the 16 year-old female driving the car was charged with DUI other as a result.

The accident took place Wednesday evening at about 6:30. The car left U.S. 11 from the north bound lane traveling at about 60 miles per hour just before it hit the ice machine, K & T Texaco owner Kristy Whitfield said. She said her store suffered some moderate damage as a result. The exterior brick wall of the store was noticeably cracked and the interior wall pushed the booths away from the wall.

“No one — luckily — was sitting at the booths,” Whitfield said.

Fortunately the ice machine that was struck by the car had run out of ice earlier that day so no one was at the machine at the time of the accident, K & T employee Claudia Bissette said.

“I’m glad none of my customers were hurt, you know,” Bissette said.

Damage to the store was roughly estimated to be about $14,000, just for the wall and the demolished ice machine, Whitfield said. The car not only destroyed the ice cooler but it also hit another car, which dominoed into two other cars.

One of the passengers ran from the scene shortly after the accident, Whitfield said. He was found later that evening but no charges were pressed against him, said Picayune Police Public Relations Officer Capt. Theresa Milar.

Milar said the accident is suspected to be the result of the driver being under the influence of some type of inhalant that impaired the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle. As a result, the juvenile driver was charged with DUI first other.

About three cans of air duster were found in the car, Whitfield said.

All four juveniles in the car were treated for mild to moderate injuries.