Car crashes into Bob’s Autotorium near Rankin Bridge, causing major damage
WHITAKER, Pa. —
A car crashed into Bob’s Autotorium convenience store near Rankin Bridge early Wednesday morning, driving through multiple rock barriers and leaving behind substantial damage.
The store was closed and nobody was inside at the time of the crash. State police said the driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
The crash happened shortly before 6 a.m. on River Road near the bridge, an area that has experienced similar incidents in previous years.
“I be nervous every day because I know cars be flying across this bridge,” said Melicia Chapman, whose wife works at the store.
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Chapman came upon the scene while searching for her wife, who had not been answering her phone.
“I’m real concerned she’s not answering her phone or nothing, so I just happened to come past to see if everything was OK,” Chapman said.
State police said the driver was heading south when she accelerated into the retaining rock walls and then directly into the building, causing significant damage.
“This is heartbreaking because they just got pump number 5 fixed a couple months ago,” Chapman said.
This location has seen similar incidents in the past. In 2024, surveillance footage captured a truck flipping over and narrowly missing a passing car.
After this latest crash, crews removed the car from the building, and workers immediately began cleanup efforts.
“Bob is a great guy,” Chapman said. “Poor Bob, he’s always fixing this gas station up. It’s his livelihood.”
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