Car slams into Lynn ice cream shop

LYNN – An out of control vehicle jumped several curbs, ran over a center island and careened into an ice cream shop in Central Square around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.The Mercury Grand Marquis, operated by Lynn resident Alan Cromwell, popped three of its tires as it reportedly zigzagged across Union Street into Central Square and lodged itself into the storefront of Flava’z, leaving behind a large hole in the exterior of the building.Unconscious at the scene, Cromwell, 67, was transported to Salem Hospital. The extent of his injuries was unknown Wednesday afternoon.Patrick Turnbull, an employee of the Mayo Group, witnessed the car crash and immediately ran over with his coworker to help the driver.”I was working across the street when it looked like the driver drove straight across the street and the island going about 30 or 40 miles an hour and slammed right into the wall,” he said. “I kept asking him if he was alright, but he just mumbled. I think he was unconscious.”Turnbull said he was shocked Cromwell managed to narrowly avoid hitting a light pole, a garbage can, and any passersby in the collision.”Fortunately there weren’t any kids walking across the street or on the sidewalk at the time of the accident,” he said.A pool of fluid slowly leaked out of the damaged vehicle as onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse at the roped off scene.Shaken up by the turn of events, Ray Cicci, owner of Flava’z, said the store was scheduled to reopen on April 21 after it was closed for a short time for renovations and the winter season.Staring at the damage in disbelief, Cicci said he hopes it won’t take a long time to repair.”This will definitely throw a wrench into the plan,” he said. “I’m usually at the store working around 12 p.m., sitting in the same spot that got hit, but I wasn’t today.”Cicci said the area of the store that was hit contains a cash register and supplies that can easily be replaced.”It could have been a lot worse,” he said.Jeffrey Roach, a friend of Cromwell’s, said he raced over to the scene as soon as he heard there had been an accident.”I left my barber shop on Chestnut Street and came right down,” he said. “I know Alan has a history of high blood pressure and some medical issues, so I hope he’s alright.”G/J Towing removed the vehicle from the crumpled wall around 1:30 p.m.Police redirected traffic for a short time over the center island as crews worked to clean the scene.