Motor Vehicle Crashes Through Local Storefront

For local business owner David Bluestein, a call from wasn't how he wanted to start his day. But, he was thankful that nobody was hurt when a motor vehicle barreled through his storefront at Westside Graphics at North Easton Village Shoppes Thursday morning, taking out his front wall and damaging much of his merchandise.

"I was dropping my son off at school. I was on the road and the police called me and said ‘your buildings been hit - can you get here soon?' so I said I was on my way," he said.

"I was thinking the back of the building got hit. I didn’t think the front of the building. But, when I got here, there were police cars everywhere and it was a mess. It went through the store and demolished the inside of the store."

Easton Fire Captain James Walsh said there were no injuries, including the elderly man whose car drove through the front of the store. He said the man was evaluated at the scene and did not need to be taken to a hospital.

"I don't know how he did it," said Walsh. "But, he went straight through the building."

Walsh said the collision happened at approximately 8:40 a.m. before the store opened at 9:30 a.m. However, Bluestein said he usually arrives at approximately 8:45 a.m.

Luckily, Walsh said, the only nearby business already open was Dunkin' Donuts a few store fronts over.

Bluestein, whose company has been located at the North Easton Shoppes location since 1995, said that although the crash didn't help business Thursday, the store will be open for business Friday and back on a regular schedule. By 3 p.m., plaza owner Don Braybants had already contracted Carver construction company RebuildEx to board the front of the store.

Braybants said all damage will be repaired in approximately three weeks.

"It’s not closed," he said. "It will be open for business tomorrow. We’re boarding it up. The building inspector, he’ll take a look at it. And, it will be back open for business tomorrow."

While the store will be boarded for the time - being, the Bluestein is waiting for an assessment of the damage. Westside Graphics specializes in framed art work, custom picture framing, tabletop framing, sports memorabilia and gifts and collectables.