Vehicle crashes into Osburn business
This probably is not what St. Vincent de Paul means when they say that they accept donations ...
The local Osburn thrift store is in the process of repairing their building after 34-year-old Karissa Leathers crashed a 2015 Jeep Cherokee right through the front door and destroyed many items inside around 8:30 p.m. on April 23.
A witness reports the vehicle was allegedly going more than 60 mph when Leathers was traveling west on Mullan Avenue toward the store.
Leathers allegedly failed to negotiate the left curve in the road, continued to drive straight ahead and left the roadway.
Her vehicle launched off of a six-foot high bank directly opposite the store, landing roughly 40 feet away in the parking lot.
She then allegedly crashed through the front of the building and the main showroom floor, eventually coming to a rest after she slammed into the rear wall (approximately 51 feet from front entrance to stopping point at the rear wall).
Amazingly and thankfully, the incident yielded no injuries.
It is believed that Leathers was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash.
When law enforcement arrived on scene, police said Leathers told them she was not involved with the incident.
Officers then preformed a DUI test (gaze nystagmus) on her, which she subsequently failed.
Leathers was arrested for misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, and obstructing or delaying an officer.
These charges have the possibility of being upgraded to felonies after law enforcement completes their investigation.
Though it had been rumored that the cause of the crash was texting and driving, Osburn Police Chief Darrel Braaten says this is not the case.
“It is believed that alcohol was a factor,” he said.
Braaten estimates that $20,000 in damages were caused, taking into consideration the damage to the building and items in the store.
As a Missoula, Mont. resident with no prior convictions in Idaho, it is unknown at this time what Leathers’ reasons are for being in the Silver Valley.
Her intended destination is also currently under investigation.
With the high rate of speed she was traveling at combined with the circumstance that led up to the collision with the store’s back wall, Braaten is astonished that Leathers was not hurt.
“She is extremely lucky she wasn’t killed in this crash,” he added.
In that same vein, store manager Ann Marie Garner is happy that no one was hurt.
“We’re glad that no one was injured, that’s first and foremost.”
Garner is also happy the damage was not as bad as it looks.
Contractors are currently looking at the damage and will hopefully be getting started on repairs in the near future.
“We hope to resume business as quickly as possible so that we can continue to help our community,” Garner said.
Leathers’ bail has been set at $2,900 and her hearing is scheduled for May, 18 at 1 p.m.