SAUGUS — An out-of-control vehicle caused an accident Friday at the Dunkin’ on 35 Lincoln Ave. The driver struck a pole, multiple vehicles, and the building. This occurred less than a week after a Dunkin’ on 42 Hamilton St. finished repairs and reopened due to a vehicle crashing into the location in April.
One of the vehicles hit was Andrew Krause’s, who was returning to his car after purchasing a coffee.
“Andrew was parked in a clearly marked space after having purchased coffee inside Dunks. He was getting ready to leave when the truck veered off the street and onto the landscaped garden with evergreen bushes,” Steve Krause, Andrew’s father, said. “It eventually hit Andrew’s car head-on. He was not hurt, but his car is banged up pretty bad.”
According to the Saugus Police Department, the report came in at 12:18 p.m., and officers soon arrived on the scene to question the driver.
The officers found that “a 55-year-old Lynn man operating his Ford pickup truck struck the Dunkin’ Donuts building…Upon investigation, that driver was unable to explain to officers how he had driven into the building,” a press release from the department read.
The driver was issued a citation for negligent operation, and a report was immediately made to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). The driver has lost the right to operate a motor vehicle pending a hearing.
According to the Fire Department, there was a language barrier between the driver and first responders, making it difficult to assess what happened.
“He said he thought he put the vehicle in reverse, but he actually put it in drive and hit the building. There were no injuries,” the fire department wrote in a message to The Item.
A building inspector has also responded to the scene to assess the situation and the structural integrity of the building. There is some damage to the outside, but it is unknown right now how severe the damage is.
