PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A liquor store in Ponte Vedra Beach was left to pick up the pieces after an SUV crashed into the business on Thursday.
Rolando Padrigan, an employee at AAW Wines & Liquor employee, told News4Jax a man driving a white BMW SUV rammed into the front door on Thursday afternoon.
“I thought it was lightning. I screamed some profanities because I thought lightning hit the store -- that’s how loud it was,” Padrigan said.
Jason Baker said he saw the crash unfold.
“All of a sudden I see this white BMW kind of shoot past," Baker recalled. “I turn away for a second and I look again and he’s running into the store, so I’m, like, ‘Oh, God. That can’t be too good.’”
According to employees, the man was parking in a parking spot when his foot slipped on the gas pedal and then the SUV crashed into the store, hitting a steel beam, which prevented him from completely going into the store.
Shattered glass and broken wine bottles covered the ground afterward. Crews worked throughout Thursday evening to make repairs, including rebuilding the wooden frames to the front doors of the business.
"He did cause some damage, but it could have been worse,” Padrigan said.
Fortunately, no one was injured, and the driver safely drove away.
Despite the damage, the liquor store stayed open until closing time and will be back open again on Friday.