Store Manager Hears Crash, Finds Running Van Inside His Store

February 6, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Early Wednesday morning, Florida Highway Patrol troopers were investigating a crash after a van slammed into the Army-Navy Surplus store in Orange County.

The driver and others inside managed to get away from the store on Lancaster and Orange Blossom Trail, but they didn't take anything. The manager was inside the store at the time of the crash.

He was working on a computer in another room.

"All I did was grab the phone, go outside and call 911," said Bryan Poole.

Poole is the manger of the Army-Navy Surplus store. He checked out the damage of the store; the broken glass and the mess of merchandise that was scattered across the showroom floor after a 1999 white Ford Econoline van crashed into the store's front window.

"I was in the back in the warehouse area and I heard a tremendous crash and, of course, I was startled," Poole added.

Orange County sheriff's deputies investigated the crash, but because nothing was stolen, they forwarded it to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers were investigating the incident as a crash because they said they don't know how the car ended up where it did.

"I noticed from the back there was a white van in my store and I heard people yelling before I got to the van," said Poole.

But the people Poole heard took off and left the car running while it sat inside his store. Investigators don't believe they knew he was there.

An insurance card left in the van said it was registered to a driver in Oviedo. Poole said his store does not sell guns, only boots, clothing, knives and other surplus items.

Source:http://www.wftv.com