Woman mistakes gas pedal for brake, hits Shell station in Springfield

A driver was cited this afternoon after she crashed into the back of a Shell gas station.

The driver, described by police as an elderly woman, said she mistook the gas pedal for the brake when she struck the building around 12:45 p.m. at 1533 W. North St. (U.S. 40) in Springfield. She was not hurt.

The driver, who was issued a ticket, told police she was headed to Wendy’s, which has a connecting parking lot to the gas station. The impact knocked over cans and a cabinet.

“I went to ... the cappuccino machine,” said Shell employee Cindy Damewood about how she got out of the way.

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