A driver from Fishers remains in critical condition at Ball Memorial Hospital after crashing his four-day old sport utility vehicle into a dry cleaners at about 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Ball State University graduate student Sarah Kincheloe and a friend were driving westbound on Bethel Avenue when John Caldwell, 29, swerved his 2007 Cadillac Escalade across the opposite lane, cutting them off, Kincheloe said.
Sgt. Brad Arey of the Muncie Police Department said Caldwell was driving at a safe speed when his vehicle suddenly sped up and crashed into the back office of Vogue Cleaners. The crash sent bricks and debris flying more than 50 feet from the building and damaged a nearby Cadillac, Arey said.
"He was slowing down then suddenly took off," he said. "I don't think he was real familiar with his new car."
Kincheloe said the women were able to brake in time and avoided the accident. Both women were uninjured.
"It was in like a beeline for the building," she said.
Arey said police are unsure what caused the accident, but they are investigating four possible causes. He declined to comment what the possibilities were.
Police do not suspect Caldwell was driving under the influence because there was no smell of alcohol, Arey said.
Caldwell left American Chevrolet Cadillac of Muncie about 10 minutes before the accident, but police do not know where he was going, he said.
Vogue Cleaners employee Kristina Hawk said the building shook and began to fill with smoke after the accident.
Arey said the air bag on the driver's side of the Escalade deployed, but he was not wearing a seat belt, which caused him to hit his head on the windshield. Caldwell might have a broken leg, Arey said.
"If he had his seat belt on it would have prevented his injuries," he said.
Store owner Bill Shroyer said a desk, chair and several trophies were destroyed, along with the building's wall. Maintenance workers will board up the hole in the wall once the car is removed. The store is insured, he said.
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