AHOSKIE – Fortunately, no one was injured when a vehicle operated by an elderly Ahoskie woman crashed into Godwin Country Meats near here Wednesday morning.

According to initial reports, Mary Clark Mitchell apparently depressed the accelerator instead of the brake as she attempted to leave the parking lot of the business, located on Godwin Town Road north of Ahoskie. That caused the Ford passenger car she was operating to crash through the outside wall of the store. It came to a stop approximately six feet inside, knocking down shelving and scattering grocery carts.

Mitchell was not injured and was checked out at the scene by members of Hertford County EMS.

Gina Godwin was in the store’s office when the car came crashing in just a few feet from where she sat.

“I couldn’t get out because the car was blocking the door (to the office) and the store was filling up with smoke (believed to be coming from the car),” Godwin said. “I was in a panic. All I wanted them (store employees) to do was to check on the lady and get her out of the car and then come and get me out.”

Godwin added that after the car had stopped, Kenny (one of the store’s employees) was able to get to her and assist her out of the office.

“We’re mighty, mighty lucky. If there was anyone standing there it would have been bad,” said Godwin, pointing to the area where the car crashed through the wall.

There was one customer in the store, checking out at the register, at the time of the crash. The other store employees were working elsewhere in the store, out of harm’s way.

“She (Mitchell) is a sweet little lady. She’s one of our regular customers. I’m glad she wasn’t hurt and no one in our store was hurt,” Godwin concluded.