On May 4th at approximately 10:25am, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a one-vehicle crash at the BP Gas Station on Denniston Street in the Village of Cassville. It was reported that a vehicle struck the building at low speeds.

After investigation, it was found that Joseph Albert, age 65 of Cassville, operated his 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the gas station parking lot. Albert left the gas pump area and driving toward the air hose at the side of the building to put air in his tires. Albert pressed the brake to park near the air hose, when his foot slipped off the brake pedal and hit the gas pedal. The vehicle accelerated rapidly and collided with a steel and wood gate in an area where dumpsters were kept. The vehicle then struck a steel pole filled with concrete and came to rest. The vehicle stopped before striking the building.

The Jeep received heavy damage from airbag deployment and was towed. Albert was uninjured in the crash. B&M Towing out of Bloomington assisted at the scene.