RCMP say incident involving 82-year-old driver was an accident
Employees and patrons of Tim Horton’s in Florenceville-Bristol got a jolting surprise on Tuesday night, Nov. 18, when a Jeep drove into the front of the restaurant, causing significant damage.
“Right now, we don’t believe anyone was hurt, thank goodness,” said store owner Ian MacDougall, who was reached shortly after the accident occurred.
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In a statement released on Wednesday, Nov. 19, MacDougall offered his gratitude.
“Thankfully, no one was seriously injured,” he noted. “We’re grateful to the first responders for their quick arrival, and to our team members for their fast actions to keep everyone safe and comfortable.”
MacDougall said the damage to the building will be repaired “as soon as possible.”
In the meantime, he said the restaurant remains open as usual and that staff are “especially excited to be selling Smile Cookies this week in support of Carleton North’s Breakfast Program.”
Jessica Bushell was in the dining room with her children, Elliott (10) and Rylee (4) Trafford, when the accident happened.
“We had just sat down with our milk and Smile cookies when out of nowhere, glass and steel were flying, and there was a Jeep speeding into the building with the engine revving…they came through hard and fast.”
Bushell said that thankfully, they were not hurt, but her children have been “shaken up” by the incident.
RCMP Sgt. James Gallant told River Valley Sun that the accident occurred when an 82-year-old woman pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake when attempting to park her vehicle in front of the restaurant.
“There were no injuries and nothing criminal,” said Gallant, but he did note that the building suffered severe damage and that a license review of the driver involved in the accident is being sought.
(with files from Theresa Blackburn)
