One taken to hospital after car drives into Southport shoe store

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — Emergency crews took a store clerk to the hospital after a man drove into a shoe store on North Howe Street this morning.

It happened at the Shoe Show just before 11 a.m. Monday.

Southport Police say 89-year-old George Mazzarell mistakenly pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake while trying to park, lunging the car into the shop. The crash sent store manager Anita Parker over the counter and to the hospital.

Fortunately Mazarell and Parker had only minor injuries and both are expected to be fine.

However, it was a scary incident for many people in the Tidewater Plaza including Card$mart owner, Gayle Walker.

“I heard an explosion, and I ran to the door to see what it was,” Walker said. “My concern was who in the store might not have gotten through this.”

When Walker saw what happened she had her daughter call 911 immediately. Walker says she could not believe what she saw.

“It was a crash of some sort. Maybe a large delivery truck or something like that. I had no idea it would be somebody going through the glass front of one of our stores,” Walker said.

It was an accident that scared Shoe Show employee, Charise Galloway, who was called to the scene shortly after.

“I mean I was freaking out on the way here because I mean we didn’t know if she was okay or not. But hearing that she is going to be OK and that the old man involved is going to be OK, that makes me feel a lot better,” Galloway said.

Police say there is roughly $30,000 worth of damage to the store. Employees say the shop will be boarded up and shut down for the time being. There is still no word on when it will reopen.

Mazzarell was charged with failing to decrease speed to avoid collision.