News writer
Some gas station stops are memorable for a lucky ticket or a quick snack. Others are memorable because someone accidentally drives into a freezer and then calmly heads inside to buy lottery tickets anyway. Police in Indiana say this unusual incident falls firmly into the second category.
According to investigators, a Bedford woman is facing multiple charges after crashing her vehicle into an ice machine at a local gas station and then proceeding with her errand as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
A crash that didn't interrupt the errand
According to police, the incident unfolded when the woman's car struck an exterior ice machine outside the gas station, causing visible damage. Instead of stopping to report the crash or alert store employees, investigators say she parked her vehicle, exited the car, and walked inside.
Once inside, surveillance video allegedly shows her purchasing Hoosier Lottery tickets at the counter before leaving the store and driving away.
No apology. No explanation. Just lottery tickets.
Damage found later
While she didn't let anyone know about the damage, no one at the gas station knew the incident had even taken place. It wasn't until later that employees noticed damage to the freezer. They then looked at security footage to figure out what happened.
From the vehicle hitting the freezer to the driver heading into the store moments later, the entire sequence of events was captured on video footage. Employees then called the police, who started working to identify the driver.
Police track down the driver
Investigators were eventually able to identify the woman in the surveillance footage and her vehicle information. When they talked to the suspect, they discovered she had not reported the crash to the store or authorities.
According to reports, the woman, later identified as 72-year-old Phyllis Grissom, told police the accident may have taken place because her footwear got stuck on the vehicle's pedal. However, this doesn't explain why she just went inside to buy lottery tickets afterward.
Police say she now faces charges related to leaving the scene of an accident and her driving status at the time of the incident.
Not a very lucky stop
Lottery tickets are often associated with dreams of winning big. However, police say this particular stop didn't end on a lucky note.
What she thought was a forgettable bump turned into a criminal investigation once the damage was found. Authorities reminded everyone that property damage accidents, even if no one is hurt, must be reported. If they aren't, then a little mishap could turn into a much bigger problem.
While gas stations see about everything, investigators say this sequence of events definitely stood out to them. The collision, the casual lottery ticket purchase, and a quiet exit made this all quite an odd case.
In the end, police say the woman's determination to get those lottery tickets may have cost her more than the price of a ticket. Did she at least win big on the ticket? No word on that, but one thing is clear: this wasn't her lucky day!
Enjoy playing the Indiana Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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