Driver crashes into Papa John’s storefront

A woman driving a white 2000 Montero Sport crashed into the front of Charleston’s Papa John’s Pizza at approximately 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Dorinda Kirkpatrick, 55, from Toledo, Ill., told police she was unsure of what happened, but as she was pulling into the parking space her vehicle jumped the curb and struck the front of the building.

Neither Kirkpatrick nor her passenger or anybody inside Papa John’s was injured at the time.

Jacob Campton, the manager on duty at the time, said he was able to witness the last part of the accident.

“I was on the phone, changing an order when I heard her hit the window,” Compton said. “I threw the phone and went to see if everyone was OK.”

Campton said the woman was not injured at the time. She backed the car out of Papa John’s and into a parking space and requested that Campton call the police.

The car slammed into the front door, crushed the doorframe, fractured the window and sent shards of glass and metal into the restaurant area. The “Open” sign hangs, bent inward from the collision.

Campton said the front of the building would be boarded up for a few days until different companies – including a window company – could come out and fix the damages.

Campton added business would not be affected by the damages, and normal hours would still apply.

“It just might be a little cold until the window’s boarded,” Campton said.

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].