January 10, 2008
Pickup crashes into Silver Cafe

Photo by Dave Maxwell Outside of Silver Cafe in Pioche following truck accident.

By Dave Maxwell

A pickup truck smashed into, and damaged, part of the historic 100-year old Silver Café in Pioche on January 6. Café owner, Judy Kwiatkowski, said the accident happened about 5 pm. Cathy Walker of Pioche had stopped her Chevy 4x4 pickup outside Tillie’s, across the street from the café. Apparently, Ms. Walker left the engine running, put the truck in neutral and engaged the emergency brake. While she was in Tillie’s, the emergency brake failed and the truck rolled backwards down the street, made a sharp right turn, and crashed into the Silver Mine Gift Shop and movie rental portion of the building which houses both the café and shop. The window was broken and the block wall underneath was destroyed. Also, one of the support pillars was broken along with Judy’s flower box.

Judy said one item in the store that was not damaged was the Santa’s Workshop display box that was made by Joe Cohen of Pioche in 1934 and purchased by Judy’s father. She said it has great sentimental value, as it was a great favorite of her mother’s when she was a child growing up in Pioche. There were no injuries, as the Silver Mine was unoccupied at the time.