A security guard on his nightly patrol of an Albury crane hire business has narrowly avoided being hit by an out-of-control Ford Falcon just before midnight on Saturday.
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W. A. Pickles Pty Ltd owner Wayne Pickles said the security guard had just pulled up at the North Street shop to do his routine check when he saw the car coming down North Street.
“He was still sitting in his car and heard the car on the median strip hit a street sign and he thought ‘This guy isn’t going to stop’,” he said.
“He had to move forward to get out of the way … the car went right through to the back wall.”
The business, founded by Wayne’s father William in 1960, was renovated only six months ago.
“There’s a few cracks in the wall and we’ll have the building assessed,” he said.
“We’ll stay open … we have to keep going.”
Albury Inspector Ian Youman said the 30-year-old Hamilton Valley man who was driving said he fell asleep.
“He was driving North on Keene Street and continued straight through the intersection of North street and collided with W. A. Pickles, going straight through the glass window,” he said.
“He crossed over the median strip near the cricket field, drove over a ‘left only’ sign before continuing on the median strip for a further 80 metres to the intersection.
“He was taken to Albury Hospital for blood and urine testing and the results are yet to be determined.
“Investigations are ongoing.”