A 46-year-old St. Louis County woman drove a 2021 Lexus RX 350 through the front of the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office, 3936 Jeffco Blvd., Thursday morning.
Two vehicles crashed into separate Arnold businesses within a 24-minute time span today (Nov. 4). One accident was at a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office, which sustained some structural damage, and the other accident was at a Circle K gas station, which left the driver injured, authorities reported.
The first accident happened at 10:03 a.m., when a 46-year-old St. Louis County woman drove a 2021 Lexus RX 350 through the front of the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service office, 3936 Jeffco Blvd. The woman told police she was trying to park in front of the business when she confused the gas pedal for the brake and accidentally crashed into the building, the report said.
The building had minimal structural damage, the Rock Community Fire Protection District said in a Facebook post. The Jackson Hewitt office, which is only open during tax season, was closed at the time and is scheduled to remain closed until Dec. 13, according to the company’s website.
Rock Fire Marshal Jeff DeLapp said repairs to the building likely could be finished in time for that opening date.
The Lexus was towed from the scene, and the driver was not arrested, although the accident was still under investigation, Cpl. Brett Ackermann said this afternoon.
The second accident happened at 10:27 a.m., when a 71-year-old Arnold woman drove a 2003 Mazda Tribute through a wall at the Circle K gas station, 2046 Key West Drive. The driver injured her knee and back, and she was transported to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, the report said.
She told officers her foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the gas pedal, causing the SUV to jump the curb and drive through a wall near where the convivence store’s cash registers are located, according to the report.
Rock Fire reported that a cashier was inside but was not injured, and firefighters shored up the building because of structural damage. DeLapp said the business will be closed until the repairs are finished.
The Mazda was towed from the scene and the driver was not arrested, but police are still investigating the incident.