Car drives into Pittsfield Township market, narrowly missing 2 people
A car drove through the wall of a small market in Pittsfield Township today.
Photo courtesy of Pittsfield Township Fire Department
An employee and a customer of ZZ's Produce in Pittsfield Township narrowly escaped injury today when a car drove directly into a wall of the market, authorities say.
The car barreled into the building 4092 Packard Rd. at about 1:15 p.m.
Pittsfield Police Lt. Brandon Williams said a 71-year-old Pittsfield Township woman was attempting to park her car at the market and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.
A customer turned to say something to the clerk just as the car plowed into the building, Pittsfield Fire Cmdr. Sean Gleason said. It narrowly missed the customer and came within 3 feet of the clerk, Gleason said.
One wall of the business collapsed onto the car, trapping the two occupants inside. Firefighters had to cut part of the wall to get to the people inside the car, but they were uninjured, Gleason said.
"It was amazing - no one had to go to the hospital," Gleason said.
The market is likely to be closed for some time due to the extensive damage, officials said. No one at the market could be reached this afternoon.
Police said no citations were issued because the crash occurred on private property, and no one was injured.
Comments
trs80
Sat, Jan 23, 2010 : 2:24 p.m.
@treetowncartel, If you thinking this could happen to anyone then I would rather you not have a license to drive either. A drivers license is a privilege not a right. And in a case like this where its obvious the person is no longer confident to operate a motor vehicle the said persons license should be revoked. A 3500# car vs. a 180# person. Who is going to win? We are thankful no one got hurt but the possibility for death or injury is still there. You would not let someone drunk operate a motor vehicle why is this any different? A similar case took place a while back. An 80+ year old hit someone in a Mejiers parking lot and caused severe injuries to the pedestrian. Do you know what her excuse was? "I forgot which one was the brake." This is not acceptable. I do not want someone driving next to me that is not capable of reacting to a simple issue of parking a car. What if she did this at a stop light? In the middle of traffic? Then you would not be saying the same thing.
balls104
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 11:58 p.m.
ZZ's is a great place. It's the only place I've seen breadfruit outside of the movie 'Mutiny on the Bounty". The old woman will most likely be re-examined. It's less than a citation, totally up to the officer in charge of the case, is administrative through the Secretary of State, and a damned fine idea in this womans case. There is nothing wrong with the MTA. If you think there is, go look at Detroit or Pontiac. Ours is wonderful. Sure covered wait stations would be nice, but in this economy they're not going to happen. The public coffers are not a place to go to for creature comforts, they are for necessities. All who think otherwise misunderstand the role of taxes and ARE THE PROBLEM. Many grocers deliver anyway. Has anyone ever asked ZZ?
treetowncartel
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 12:37 p.m.
Mistaking the accelerator for the brake is not such an event that her license should be taken away, this could happen to anyone, that is why it is called an accident.Plus with the weather her foot could have slipped. Looking at the picture, it looks like that is a Toyoata, which ahd a recall for these very same issues. Now if she mistook the accelerator for the clutch it might be a different story. Everyone calling for a citation of some sort needs to think about this, if you ran into the side of your garage should you receive an infraction? This is a battle between insurance companies, assuming they both have insurance.
Jody Durkacs
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 12:32 p.m.
Yeah I guess Careless then, unless she plowed into the place to settle a grudge.
Lokalisierung
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 12:25 p.m.
Wait which catagory does it fall in? Careless driving and recklous driving are 2 different offenses. Careless is 4 points and she (or you) would not lose you licience for a 4 point offense. Reclous driving is aserious offence which she is not guilty of "in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving."
Lokalisierung
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 12:17 p.m.
"I know the accident was on private property and that there were no injuries, but that still doesn't explain why no citations were issued. Pittsfield Twp PD, could you please clarify this point? Are not crimes (misdemeanors) committed on private property still crimes?" Are you asking about civil or legal charges? If you're asking about Civil, have you ever been pulled over for a traffic infraction and not given a ticket? That's how no civil infraction can happen. As for legal, what should the charge be exactly?
Jody Durkacs
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
I am pretty sure this falls under the category of careless/reckless driving if she crashed through the wall of a building. She should have been cited and her license taken away. If it was me, a younger male, I bet that would have happened.
voter
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 10:16 a.m.
Steve, it is not a misdemeanor but a civil infraction. Very few civl infractions can be written on private property. An accident report on private property is not even required in the State of Michigan unless someone is injured. Hope this helps. For Elle thats what the drivers insurance is for. They should make the buiness whoel.
ElleFordA2
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 9:57 a.m.
Accident was on private property and that there were no injuries? What about injury to the business? (Lack of sales and insurance costs to fix the place up?) That's pretty darn injurious.
Steve Hendel
Thu, Jan 7, 2010 : 8:30 a.m.
I know the accident was on private property and that there were no injuries, but that still doesn't explain why no citations were issued. Pittsfield Twp PD, could you please clarify this point? Are not crimes (misdemeanors) committed on private property still crimes?
treetowncartel
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 8:45 p.m.
81 Wolverine and Jeff S, you actually got your trees from Leveretts. They have owned that property for 50 plus years that I know of. They used to run that market years ago, but now limit themselves to delivering fresh produce to local restaurants and the annual Christmas tree sales. ZZ's rents from them. Very good people!!
breadman
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 8:42 p.m.
Time for her too see the State, too see if she is still able to drive and her health. They did my Father in Aug. 2009 when he turned 77!!!! I took him to Canton.
MyOpinion
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.
Ann Arbor has a pretty good bus system. Buses run every 30 minutes and on the Packard corridor, I believe the buses are even more frequent. Seniors (65+) are eligible for Senior Ride, which is a subsidized taxi service that sort of ambles around to your designated place. My father, who lives in suburban Houston, has much fewer public transit options. Not clear if age is a factor for this driver's problems, but if it is and she has reasonable mobility, AATA and/or Senior Ride will work as reasonable alternatives to driving
Lokalisierung
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.
Well how to pay for all the things you're talking about cost money so there's a problem. Just talk about introducing a millage for that and see the riot that starts on this site. 71 isn't that old...maybe she's just a bad driver, no shortage around here.
trs80
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 5:39 p.m.
There needs to be a driving exam given when you hit a certain age range. How can one expect someone who was tested on their driving ability over 60 years ago to be up to date with driving laws. Not to mention be have the processing power and awareness to operate a motor vehicle.
ToddAustin
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 5:32 p.m.
ZZ's is a great little market. I wish them well getting open again soon. This unfortunate accident underscores the inadequacy of our public transportation system. There is no reason why the driver should need to risk injuring herself or others in order to take care of herself. This area desperately needs an expanded public transit system that regularly services all the neighboring communities, provides proper sheltered seating at every stop, and extends itself to cover the needs of senior citizens like the woman in this incident.
loser
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.
i think if you get to the point where you are confused as to which is the gas pedal, and which is the brake pedal, that its time to stop driving.
81wolverine
Wed, Jan 6, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Bummer. That's where we buy our Christmas tree every year. Hopefully they'll be back in business very soon.