Car crashes through front doors of Hermitage Dollar Tree store

Feb. 28—HERMITAGE — The Dollar Tree at 1950 E. State St. is closed after a car crashed through the store's entrance at about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Hermitage fire Chief John Flynn said the car damaged the store building's glass exterior facing East State Street and hit the checkout stands just inside the entrance.

The car's impact knocked out the glass entry doors, a low brick part of the wall and adjacent windows, leaving a gaping hole in the wall about 9 feet wide and 7 feet high.

The driver may have accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, or thought the car was in reverse instead of drive, Flynn said.

The driver herself was not injured, but first responders had to cut away some debris to open the car door. The driver was later examined by EMTs and refused treatment, Flynn said.

No one else reported injuries. The first responders cleared the scene at about 2:30 p.m., according to Mercer County 911.

Flynn said he expected the business would be closed for at least a few days. Hermitage building inspector Russell Penn also visited the site.

Flynn said this was the latest instance in the past few weeks where a vehicle accidentally hit a business.

"Most of the time it's minor damage, but in this case there was all this glass everywhere," Flynn said.

First responders included the Hermitage fire and police departments and McGonigle Ambulance Service, according to Mercer County 911.

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