News

Truck crashes through front of Idyllwild Gift Shop, 2 injured

Published August 22, 2018 2:16 AM

Two people have been transported to area hospitals after a two-car collision careened into the Idyllwild Gift Shop.

The accident was reported shortly after 1:00 p.m. today.

A tan SUV reportedly crashed into a white Toyota Tundra pickup truck, pushing the vehicle backwards through the business’s storefront.

“It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Jade Kimmerer, who works next door to the Idyllwild Gift Shop. “This car (tan SUV) had to have been going really, really fast, for it to be that powerful and I’m so glad that guy (the driver) had to have been wearing a seatbelt.”

Witnesses say the driver is in his 80’s and suffered minor injuries.

“We don’t know if it was medical episode, or if he hit the gas instead of the break, we don’t know,” said store owner, Colleen Shahan. She says the employee working at the time of the crash is in the hospital being evaluated.

“So far, [the employee is suffering from] just a cut lip that we know of and just shock and we’re making sure that she’s not hurt internally at this point,” said Shahan.

No one was shopping inside according to Shahan. She estimates up to $5,000 in merchandise was damaged, plus additional damage to the building. The white truck that was hit belongs to the store owner’s husband and is a total loss.

“July [and] August have not been fun, and I hate using that word, but that’s really it. The fire (Cranston Fire) first, it’s the second fire in five years, and this is the first time anyone’s ever done this type of damage to a store in Idyllwild.”

Shahan hopes to reopen by Friday.