Truck Crashes Through Building

Pickup drives through State Farm Offices at Lake Otis and Tudor

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By Brendan Joel Kelley
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Story Created: Apr 27, 2012 at 12:59 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2012 at 2:38 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - Around 10:15 Friday morning a U-Haul Ford F-150 pickup drove through the State Farm Offices at Lake Otis and Tudor.

The driver, 84-year-old Frances Barrios, was making a loop around the parking lot, attempting to park, but accidentally hit the gas pedal and went through the glass windows on the east side of the State Farm building, stopping at the far west end of the office.

A 67-year-old man, J.B. Bailey, was seated in the office and was struck by the bumper of the truck, sustaining a hurt shoulder, but he was not hospitalized. Barrios and her passenger were uninjured.

Barrios received a citation for careless driving.

The building was shored up by fire department personnel; damages to the building are estimated in the thousands.

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Anonymous said on Monday, Apr 30 at 4:01 PM

Yet another argument for mandatory refresher road tests/ exams for seniors. Hitting the gas instead of the brake is the cause of probably 90% of senior citizen accidents. It sucks but at a certain point we need to realize we simply are not capable of certain things anymore. Can happen at any age, but once most people hit 70-80 years old, things start changing. My grandfather and father both gave up their license at around 75 years old. I expect to do the same, and it will be a very difficult thing to relinquish that independence, plus I love to drive and have many million miles under my belt. BUT, suppose a little kid (or anyone) got killed by that truck? How would the driver feel about it? Over something as simple and stupid as hitting the wrong pedal?

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Mandy Gershon said on Saturday, Apr 28 at 1:16 PM

Wonder if State Farm was the driver's insurance company.

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Peggy Wilcox said on Saturday, Apr 28 at 10:39 AM

How does this article not mention whether or not the driver was insured?

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MLMS video team said on Friday, Apr 27 at 2:21 PM

Was touring the station as this unfolded. It was cool to see what happened behind the scenes! Thank you KTVA -- The broadcasters or Mirror Lake Middle School

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