WHITE HALL, Ark. (KATV) — A local business in Pine Bluff sustained damage Sunday morning after a driver crashed their vehicle into the establishment.
Rick Williamson, the owner of Rick’s Quik Stop in White Hall, said he got a call from his father early on October 12.
“Approximately 10 minutes after 6:00 this morning, I got a call from my father, who comes out to the store every morning, very, very early,” Williamson said. “He says, ‘Son, you probably need to get up and come over here to the store… It looks to me like someone has driven into the store.’ I was kinda in shock for a minute.”
Williamson made the drive to his store to find where the vehicle had hit the front wall of his store.
The vehicle took out two concrete posts before it made contact with the front wall, causing extensive damage to the interior as well. However, Williamson said the damage could have been much worse.
“Luckily, I did have those concrete barriers that slowed them down,” Williamson said. “If not, it could have been a whole lot worse than what it was. Nevertheless, there was still a lot of damage done inside the store.”
Williamson said the crash mostly affected the household goods.
“There’s about a 12-foot gondola there, where we keep our household goods, our pet foods, like you’re washing detergents and paper towels,” Williamson said. “That’s the biggest thing that was affected, because that was right there against that front wall where the vehicle impact was.”
Williamson said the Pine Bluff Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police are investigating the incident.
The vehicle is described as a black Dodge Charger with a red trim around the bottom of the vehicle. Williamson’s security cameras captured the accident from two angles.
“I have very good video surveillance footage all the way around the store,” Williamson said. “There was a black Dodge Charger that came down from Barraque Street and came across the parking lot. I don’t know if the person was asleep, I don’t know if they were intoxicated, I don’t know if they had had a medical issue; all I know is they came through the four-way stop. They never stopped. They never let up.”
Williamson said his store, which has served the community for nearly 24 years, will continue to operate during renovations.
“We have got it fixed where it’s customer safe and it’s customer friendly,” Williamson said. “If they can get past the cosmetic part of it, we’re good to go!”
If you have any information about this incident, you’re urged to contact local law enforcement.
