Truck slams into Walmart wall, resulting in only minor injury to driver

Workers clean up in the aftermath of a vehicle driving into the side of the Greencastle Walmart Supercenter Wednesday afternoon. The impact took place on the north wall of the store, just west of the home and pharmacy entrance of the store at 1750 Indianapolis Rd.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

A 77-year-old Owen County man escaped serious injury Wednesday afternoon after his pickup truck careened backward and struck the north wall of the Greencastle Walmart Supercenter.

Linden Herr of Quincy suffered only a small cut to the top of his head and was treated and released at the scene, Greencastle Police Capt. Brad Hiatt reported.

Herr was attempting to back his 2008 Ford F-150 from a handicapped space near the front of the store at 1750 Indianapolis Rd. about 1:27 p.m. when his prosthetic leg reportedly got caught between the brake and the gas pedal.

That forced the vehicle to go backward in an uncontrollable manner, Hiatt reported.

Trying to avoid hitting pedestrians or any other vehicles, Herr was able to steer the vehicle over the sidewalk to a point the west of the westernmost store entrance near the lawn and garden area. However, the truck slammed into the Walmart building, creating a hole in the exterior wall.

The truck sustained significant damage up to the rear axle, including substantial damage to the frame.

Property damage was estimated in excess of $5,000, Hiatt reported.

The driver did not appear to be impaired in any way, police said.