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Car Crashes into Countryside Paint and Decorating Office in Middlebury

photo by Phil Gridley/Mike Cameron L to R: Vehicle tire prints near outdoor light and road sign looking southeast on Route 7. The vehicle involved after impacting and penetrating the Countryside office in the northeast corner of the building. This is an interior view of Eric Denu’s office the morning after the crash. The office window now boarded up would be facing east/northeast. No one was injured in the crash. Customer service and inventory were not affected by the accident.

Tuesday May 12, 2009

By Mike Cameron

    Police are continuing their investigation of a single automobile accident that occurred on Friday afternoon May 8th 2009.  Witnesses at the  scene said the vehicle involved was reportedly heading north on Route 7, crossed the center line in front of the Countryside Carpet and Paint store into and across the oncoming southbound lane. The vehicle then traveled over a curb, barely missing a highway sign, across the  front lawn, missing two outdoor light fixtures before crashing into the building.  The late model Cadillac crashed through the wall and came to a stop partially inside the building with its front bumper behind what used to be the desk of Countryside’s owner Eric Denu.   

    The vehicle shattered the wall including a sizable segment of the wall’s supporting frame work, a window and frame, office furniture and fixtures.  The force of the crash appears to have sheared off the wood at the top edge of the basement wall.  

    Eric, who normally occupies the office, was called away from his desk by his wife Janice to speak to a customer. Both Eric and Janice who operate CountrySide expressed their gratitude that no one was seriously injured.  The store’s retail business and customer service is not expected to be affected by the mishap.  The day after the accident it was business as usual, even as the store staff  and business neighbors pondered what could have been the worst case scenario.  

    Asked about his close call, Eric was characteristically calm and analytical.  Looking over the pile of rubble that less than a day earlier was his well organized  workspace he offered this perspective.  “If I would have been sitting here I would be hurting right now,” he said.  Asked if his favorite Boston Red Sox and Patriot’s collectors items that used to hang on the now destroyed office wall were saved, he added, “they’re ok.” Eric also added, “You see storm damage on the news and this gives you a better appreciation of what those people must experience.”

    Eric was working with a building contractor by mid Saturday morning to begin repairs.  As to the driver of the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding what caused the accident, no official information from the authorities was available at press time. Sources told the Voice on Saturday  the unidentified driver was a young man who appeared to be not seriously injured.

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