Car Crashed Through UPS Store; Owner Says We're Open

UPDATED, 1:26 p.m.: A car crashed through the front of the UPS Store at 235 Main St. on Friday, closing it for the remainder of the day.

Chandrakant Patel, who owns the store in a strip mall on Main Street, said he wasn't sure what to make of the incident when it first occurred.

"I thought it might be a terrorist attack," Patel said.

Madison Police say the accident occurred at 12:50 p.m., when 77-year-old Madison resident Anne Heilmann drove her 2005 Buick through the store's front.

"What looks to have happened is she was attempting to park and hit the gas instead of the brake pedal, which caused her to go through the front of the store," Lt. Darren Dachisen said. "There were no injuries. There are no charges at this point, but the investigation is ongoing."

Patel said the car broke a counter and turned two copy machines completely around. Patel said he was the only person in the store when the incident occurred. Police said the driver did not sustain any injuries.

The accident also affected a wall in Five Guys, as the restaurant takes up the unit directly to the right of the UPS Store. The wall immediately to the left upon walking into Five Guys is dented in toward the restaurant.

Patel said, though he was unable to open again on Friday, that the store has been open ever since, as a plywood facade has temporarily been constructed. He said the accident has affected business.

"Costumers don't come in because they don't think we're open," Patel said.

He said that he is hopeful the front of the store will be repaired as early as this week.