Ave Maria’s Dave Fuller (green vest) surveys damage alongside RCMP officers outside the 20th Avenue business

Prince George, BC – Employees and customers at Ave Maria’s Gifts & Health Foods store received quite a surprise this afternoon, as a sports utility vehicle attempted to open up the store at 1638 20th Avenue to drive thru business.

"We were really lucky," says store owner, Dave Fuller.  No one inside or outside the business was injured when the Honda CRV hit the glass entrance door at approximately 3:40pm this afternoon.  The crash also shattered one of the large front windows. 

RCMP Media Liaison Officer, Corporal Craig Douglass, says the 46-year-old female driver of the vehicle and two occupants were shaken up by the incident, but unharmed.  "Although the investigation is just beginning, it appears that a gas pedal was pushed instead of the brake," says Douglass.  "A mechanical inspection has been ordered to determine if any possible mechanical issues may have contributed to the cause of the collision."  He says charges will be considered if warranted.

An engineer, arranged by the property’s insurance company, has determined the building to be structurally sound.

"This is the second time it’s happened in about three years," says Fuller, "Somebody else went through the window at the other end of the store, but, luckily in that case, too, no one got hurt."

The incident forced the closure of one westbound lane during the afternoon commute, and traffic snarled further with many motorists pausing to take a look at the vehicle’s perch.

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(updated at 6:12pm)