SALISBURY — The vehicle that struck a downtown storefront on Thursday morning, shattering the windows and inflicting significant damage to the business, was reportedly stolen in Kannapolis.
According to information from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the driver, identified as a 17-year-old runaway, was also taken into custody from a residence on East Ridge Road and transported to a juvenile detention facility.
Per reports, the vehicle reached speeds of up to 70 mph as it briefly fled a pursuing sheriff’s deputy that first spotted it in Salisbury when the vehicle ran a red light around 4 a.m. The chase lasted less than a mile before the vehicle struck Glass Ingenuity after running the intersection of Fisher Street and South Main Street in downtown Salisbury.
After impact with the business, the individual was able to exit the vehicle and flee on foot. Camera surveillance showed the individual get out of the car and head down East Fisher Street before exiting the camera’s view.
Damage to the store has prompted Glass Ingenuity to close temporarily. Owner Cora Greene confirmed that the business would be closed through Saturday.
“A car crashed through our front window in the early morning hours causing significant damage,” reads the store’s official Facebook page. “We are working hard to get back into operation! Thank you for your understanding.”
In a Thursday conversation, Greene said that the crash would not impact the stained-glass classes that the business offers because that area of the store was not damaged by the vehicle. However, the damage incurred at the front of the business where the gallery and store were located was comprehensive.
