No one was injured when a pickup truck crashed into a downtown office building last week in Eupora.
The accident occurred about 1:15 p.m. March 18 at the Tower Loan building located at 12 N. Dunn St. between the BLY Art Park and the former Caked Up bakery on the “low side.”
Police Chief Gregg Hunter identified the driver as James Ashford, 84, of Ackerman, who was pulling into a parking space in his Ford F-150 Platinum. Hunter said Ashford thought he was pressing the brake to stop but his foot was actually on the gas pedal and the truck “rocketed” through the plate-glass window on the north side of the front door. The truck entered the building at an angle and hit the north-side wall, stopping just behind the front tires.
Ashford, who had no passengers, was not injured. An ambulance from North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora was dispatched to the scene and he rested briefly inside but was not taken to the hospital.
Office Manager Tammy Bright was the only person inside Tower Loan, sitting two desks back from the entrance. Bright said glass went flying everywhere but she was not hurt either.
The Eupora Fire Department responded in addition to EMS and the Eupora Police Department. No citations were issued.
The Tower Loan building, which is owned by Larry Edwards, suffered major damage. The business was also destroyed by fire in October 2006 when it was located at the current site of the Art Park.
