Stuck accelerator sends Supreme Court justice’s car into store

By Mary Manning

Published Monday, June 22, 2009 | 1:45 p.m.

Updated Monday, June 22, 2009 | 3:17 p.m.

An accelerator that stuck on a Mercedes sedan today propelled Nevada Supreme Court Justice Kris Pickering through the front of a UPS store in the western part of the Las Vegas Valley, but no one was injured.

Metro Police did not issue a citation to the justice.

"I am so thankful no one was physically hurt," Pickering said. Her two border collies in the car also escaped injury.

Store owner Dan Halovich said he was standing in the middle of the store at 840 S. Rancho Drive near West Charleston Boulevard before the force of the car's collision sent wood and glass flying at about 9 a.m. Monday.

"This explosion of wood and glass goes by me and nothing touched me. The explosion was so loud, and there was the car," Halovich said.

The air bags inside the Mercedes did not deploy and Pickering was able to climb out of the car, Halovich said. He recognized the Supreme Court justice. "She was a bit shaken," he said.

The Mercedes had minor damage and was towed away.

Pickering went home after the crash, but went to work and continued her normal activities, said Bill Gang, spokesman for the Nevada Supreme Court.

The crash missed clerks and customers alike. The Mercedes did manage to push a copy machine through the wall of a neighboring jewelry store, Halovich said.

"We had a customer just leave the store, go by the front door, then five seconds later you see the car go WHOOOSH," Halovich said.

Halovich called 911 and traffic officers and paramedics responded. Police interviewed the driver and they backed the Mercedes out of the store, he said.

Computers and packages were not damaged in the collision, Halovich said. "I have one copier left, but we can't have customers walk through the store," he said, explaining that workmen were building a temporary wall and a glass company had already measured the gaping hole in the front of the store.

The insurance company and the repair work were going full speed ahead, Halovich said. "At some point tonight I'll be able to go home. It's just been a very exciting morning so far. I'm so glad nobody got hurt."