January 3, 2008
Pickup Truck Crashes Through Alamo Chevron

Photo by Dave Maxwell Repair crew fixing Alamo Chevron station after a pickup truck went through the wall

By Dave Maxwell

No injuries were sustained when a 2007 Ford pickup truck crashed through the window on the northeast corner of the Alamo Chevron station December 31. The accident happened about 6:30 am, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Ray.

The truck, driven by a couple from Haley, Idaho, whose names were not given, crashed into the cashier area of the gas station, taking out all the computers that control the pumps.

Deputy Ray said driver error was the cause of the accident, but alcohol was not involved. The driver told Ray, as he was pulling up to stop in a parking spot, his engine started to race and he couldn’t get it stopped and ended up smashing through the window before he could stop it by throwing the transmission into Park. Deputy Ray said that the driver thought maybe his cruise control kicked back in.

No one was in the cashier area at the time of the accident, although cashier Lori Rhude said she had stepped away from the area only moments before. She could see the truck coming and said to herself, “Oh My Gosh!” She said the truck pushed all the counters from the window side to the opposite side of the cashier area. When the driver got out of the truck, he was inside the store.

The pickup suffered only minor damage; a broken side mirror and small dent to the front fender. The driver was not issued a citation and after getting the needed information, Sheriff’s deputies allowed the couple to continue on their way south.

Repairs were quickly made to the outside of the building closing the hole caused by the truck. Later in the day, store owner, Paul Christian, was able to rewire the computer system allowing the store to begin gas pump operations.