Airhead driver crashes into auto dealership

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 1st, 2010, 08:46 AM

Four people were injured early Memorial Day after their vehicle crashed through a wall of an auto dealer in Highland.

The vehicle was on Sportsman Road and crossed Illinois 143 into the Steve Schmitt Chevrolet dealership, according to the Highland Police Department.

The vehicle hit some unoccupied vehicles parked at the dealership and then crashed into the north side of the dealership, "causing significant damage to the garage area of the dealership," according to a Police Department news release.
[...]

All four people in the vehicle -- two adults and two 16-year-olds -- were treated for injuries at the scene, and three of them were taken to St. Louis hospitals.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story...203232&catid=3

One of the passengers inside a car that crashed into a Highland, IL auto dealer's garage says the driver was inhaling compressed air and passed out. The car jumped a ditch between Highway 143 and the dealership around 6:00a.m. on Memorial Day.

"I couldn't believe it all happened just like that and I feel so lucky because if I didn't have a seat belt on I would have gone right through a window probably smashed my body against the building," said Ryan Dale.

Dale says the device the driver used is called an air duster. "He pulls the air duster out of his seat and he hits it and I go no, no, no not in the car," said Dale. "Then he's like I don't care you know and he passes out and he's gradually getting speed of about 60 to 65 miles per hour," said Dale.
[...]

Dale says he tried to steer out of danger but it was too late. "I should have hit the "E" brake but I didn't I panicked, tried to grab the wheel and turn it and we screeched all the way," he said.

Dale says the crash that could have taken a life is now a lesson learned. "Don't ever do air duster while driving don't ever do air duster period," Dale said.

http://www.kplr11.com/news/kplr-car-...,6059392.story

No one has been cited for the accident... yet. I suspect it's because the driver is one of the injured. He obviously had brain damage before the accident.