Driver's stuck flip-flop blamed for Gorst crash
GORST, Wash. -- A driver blamed a stuck flip-flop for a crash that landed his car inside a building near Gorst.
It happened where Highway 3 meets SR-16 and you've got to hit the accelerator to merge.
The trick of course is staying on the road and slowing down. You don't want to hit the ramp at Custom Hearth.
"Usually people don't speed through Gorst," said Devin Feliciano. "I saw someone going about 85 and I said, 'he's going way too fast.' "
Indeed, the car hit the ramp and went airborne.
"It almost looked like a boat flying," Feliciano said.
It landed square into the Custom Hearth building.
"He was probably a foot or two up when he went through here," said John Lee with Custom Hearth. "It must have been an exciting ride."
Damaging too. The truck tore into the building, wiped out several wood stoves, smashed a gas line, and left a trail of debris.
"And when I walked up to him he was saying oh no, my flip-flop got stuck," witness Rich Smith said. "And his dog was licking him in the face."
The 65-year-old driver was embarrassed but OK.
"Nice guy," Lee said. "He says he's going to buy a stove from me."
In case you're wondering, troopers say it is not illegal to wear flip-flops while driving. Hitting a building? That's still under investigation.
Troopers say alcohol was not involved, but the driver was cited for excessive speed.
It happened where Highway 3 meets SR-16 and you've got to hit the accelerator to merge.
The trick of course is staying on the road and slowing down. You don't want to hit the ramp at Custom Hearth.
"Usually people don't speed through Gorst," said Devin Feliciano. "I saw someone going about 85 and I said, 'he's going way too fast.' "
Indeed, the car hit the ramp and went airborne.
"It almost looked like a boat flying," Feliciano said.
It landed square into the Custom Hearth building.
"He was probably a foot or two up when he went through here," said John Lee with Custom Hearth. "It must have been an exciting ride."
Damaging too. The truck tore into the building, wiped out several wood stoves, smashed a gas line, and left a trail of debris.
"And when I walked up to him he was saying oh no, my flip-flop got stuck," witness Rich Smith said. "And his dog was licking him in the face."
The 65-year-old driver was embarrassed but OK.
"Nice guy," Lee said. "He says he's going to buy a stove from me."
In case you're wondering, troopers say it is not illegal to wear flip-flops while driving. Hitting a building? That's still under investigation.
Troopers say alcohol was not involved, but the driver was cited for excessive speed.
