By Tribune-Review

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Fayette County man told police he mistook a pickup truck's gas pedal for the brake pedal when he crashed into a convenience store, according to a Uniontown police report.

Police said Joseph Engle, 18, of 59 Park St., Uniontown, told them he was parked in front of Byers Market on Connellsville Street at 7:46 p.m. Saturday when his borrowed Chevrolet Silverado accelerated into the store.

Engle, according to the report, told a police officer he thought the pickup was in park when it accelerated into the store. He then mistook the gas pedal for the brake and pressed down on it, causing the vehicle to move forward “at a high rate of speed” farther into the store, police said.

Engle backed out of the store, parked the truck and went back inside, according to the report.

When Officer Delbert DeWitt asked Engle for his driver's license, Engle told the officer he has a learner's permit, the report said.

“Engle then stated that he has been trying to learn how to drive with one foot rather than two and he thought he was pressing the brake,” DeWitt wrote.

No injuries were reported, Several coolers, shelves, a counter and the cash register were damaged, police said.

1. Suspect surrenders in foundry evacuation
2. Thunderstorm knocks out power
3. 3-day waiver allows military couple to finally be married
4. Precincts fix omissions with paper ballots
5. Murrysville contractor accused in $10,000 theft
6. County schools among nation’s best
7. DeFazio’s win imperiled by lawsuit
8. Democratic newcomer, incumbents to vie for seats on Latrobe Council
9. GOP leader gets nod for Westmoreland prothonotary
10. Southmoreland holds kindergarten registration
11. Southmoreland seniors earn spots  on All-State Band

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.