This is the second time this year Fogtown has been hit by a vehicle, but it is the biggest damage the popular site has suffered. (Darrell Roberts / CBC)
A jeep smashed the front of a Fogtown Barber in downtown St. John shortly after noon on Sunday, landed inside the store and caused significant damage.
Fogtown Barber co-owner Chris Evans told CBC News that no one was in the store, which closed on Sunday, at the time of the crash and no one was on the sidewalk outside. He said it was a miracle that no one was inside.
“There is a lot of devastation,” he said. “I could have been killed. I stand in front of this window most days, all day. So it looks like the store was destroyed, but, you know, I’m alive. My employees are alive. “
A spokesman for the Royal Newfoundland Police confirmed that the two passengers in the car had been taken to hospital.
A white SUV was towed shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon after crashing into Vogtown Barber. (Darrell Roberts / CBC)
Ethan Pardi, who works at the Terre Cafe across the street, told CBC News that the vehicle exited Harbor Drive at a nearby intersection, crashed into a car parked in front of the Water Street store, and drove through the front of the store.
“It simply came to our notice then. “You could hear the windows, the click of the wood, and definitely the sound of pushing and destroying everything in the store,” Pardi said. “Honestly, [it] it was a terrible catastrophe. That made everyone in the room we were in. “
Pardi said the driver of the vehicle did not appear to slow down or try to stop before crashing.
Pardi said he immediately called 911.
“The fire truck appeared first five minutes later, the police showed up about seven to 10 minutes later, and the ambulance appeared about 10 to 12 minutes later,” he said.
A “surreal” scene
Hours after the crash, there was an increased presence of first aid at the scene, and a section of Water Street was temporarily closed. A crowd watched as the SUV was pulled from the building.
Newfoundland Power cut off electricity in the building and residents upstairs were told to stay outside until the structure was inspected.
Evans called the scene “surreal.”
Another SUV crashed into a Fogtown Barber in January, forcing the store to be repaired. The crash on Sunday afternoon caused much more damage.
Evans said he was warned by a Side Shop employee located in the same building but on the same floor. He said the scene was “surreal”.
“Honestly, I thought he was joking because we were in a similar situation only six months ago,” he said.
“We just scratch our heads and how it happened again.”
He said staff were already looking for a temporary place for the barber shop and hoped it would be open within days.
“We don’t plan, you know, to take a summer vacation or anything like that.
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