Update: Huffing Suspected in Fayetteville Liquor Store Crash
By: Marissa Stevens
Updated: May 1, 2012
Scary moments Monday afternoon in Fayetteville as witnesses said a car spun out of control and crashed into a liquor store.
According to Fayetteville Police, two cars were involved in the accident which happened on School Street, near the I-540 interchange.
Investigators say 39-year-old Amber Gallegos was driving at a very high speed, crossed the median, and t-boned a red pick-up which spun into a liquor store, landing on its side.
Officers believe Gallegos was huffing from cleaning product cans while she was driving and blacked out.
After the crash, police say she was so disoriented that she tried to hand the cans of cleaning product to an officer.
Gallegos' car, a station wagon, ended up off the road in a nearby car dealership.
Police say two people were trapped in the truck and had to be cut out with the Jaws of Life. All three people involved were taken to the hospital.
Jim Neighbors was sitting in his office when he heard the crash.
"You could hear, the impact was just unbelievable and then debris that was everywhere by the time I stepped outside. It's just one of those things, you know, one minute you're doing fine and everything's great and the next minute, you know, your life changes forever."
Jim also says he helped flip the red-truck back on all four wheels before emergency crews got there.
According to Jim, Gallegos got out of her car, and walked around seeming to be confused. Jim says she did not seem to know where she was or what had happened.
Traffic was redirected around the scene for hours following the crash.
Police say all three are being treated for non-life threatening injuries. We will keep you updated as police continue their investigation on the accident.
According to Fayetteville Police, two cars were involved in the accident which happened on School Street, near the I-540 interchange.
Investigators say 39-year-old Amber Gallegos was driving at a very high speed, crossed the median, and t-boned a red pick-up which spun into a liquor store, landing on its side.
Officers believe Gallegos was huffing from cleaning product cans while she was driving and blacked out.
After the crash, police say she was so disoriented that she tried to hand the cans of cleaning product to an officer.
Gallegos' car, a station wagon, ended up off the road in a nearby car dealership.
Police say two people were trapped in the truck and had to be cut out with the Jaws of Life. All three people involved were taken to the hospital.
Jim Neighbors was sitting in his office when he heard the crash.
"You could hear, the impact was just unbelievable and then debris that was everywhere by the time I stepped outside. It's just one of those things, you know, one minute you're doing fine and everything's great and the next minute, you know, your life changes forever."
Jim also says he helped flip the red-truck back on all four wheels before emergency crews got there.
According to Jim, Gallegos got out of her car, and walked around seeming to be confused. Jim says she did not seem to know where she was or what had happened.
Traffic was redirected around the scene for hours following the crash.
Police say all three are being treated for non-life threatening injuries. We will keep you updated as police continue their investigation on the accident.
