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Car crashes into Donut Parade in north Spokane

AA Auto Salvage tow truck driver Jim Simmons cleans up broken glass after a motorist crashed into the front of Donut Parade on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, at 2152 N. Hamilton St. in Spokane. Authorities said the vehicle’s driver fell asleep before slamming into Donut Parade’s front door. The drive and a pedestrian were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jonathan Glover jonathanglover22@gmail.com

Customers and staff at the Donut Parade were jolted by more than the coffee on Tuesday.

About noon, the driver of a 1993 red Honda Civic apparently fell asleep at the wheel before slamming into the front door of the beloved doughnut shop, 2152 N. Hamilton St., Spokane police Officer Aaron Childress said.

“I just heard it and it felt like an earthquake,” said Donut Parade owner Christian Reno.

The driver, whose identity has not been released, was heading north on Hamilton Street near Illinois Avenue when witnesses say his car veered to the right and hit a crosswalk pole, which collapsed. A pedestrian was injured in the incident. The car then crashed into the front door of the Donut Parade, which had multiple employees and customers inside.

Reno was icing donuts in the back when she heard the car hit the front door. She said her first thought was, “Where are the kids?” since children often stop to look at the painted front windows.

“I should put an ad in the paper, ‘Doughnut shop owner requesting concrete pillars,’ ” Reno said. “I just don’t know how long until this happens again.”

Nobody inside the shop was hurt.

Officers at the scene said multiple witnesses described the driver as looking like he was asleep behind the wheel. Police said they did not have reason to believe he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Both the driver and the pedestrian were transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Their conditions were not available early Tuesday afternoon, Childress said.

Reno said she is unsure how costly the damages to the front door will be, but she hopes it’s not too much, since the shop already is struggling financially.

This is apparently the second time a vehicle has hit the establishment, Reno said. More than a decade ago, the rear seating area needed to be remodeled after a car took out most of the wall.

“I think this is the second or third time they’ve been in the news for getting hit,” said AA Auto tow truck driver Jim Simmons. “They should rename it Target Donuts.”

Reno said the Donut Parade will continue to do business as the front door is repaired.