Driver Backs Car Through Window of Downtown Business in Pinehurst
Pinehurst firefighters Dee Johnson (left) and Jeff Maxwell clean up glass after a driver rear ended the front window of Gemma Gallery in downtown Pinehurst Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Hannah Sharpe
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Pinehurst police say no one was injured when an elderly man backed his car into a parked car and then went through the front window of Gemma Gallery today.
The accident happened around 1:30 p.m.
Police said Alex Bernard Delbueno, 82, of Pinehurst told them he confused the gas pedal for the brakes when he was backing up.
Delbueno's 2010 Lincoln was parallel parked in front of Gemma Gallery at the time of the accident.
"The gentleman tried backing up and when he backed up hie hit the gas and clipped a car behind him and then continued up the curb and took out the whole front window of the business," said Deputy Chief Floyd Thomas.
Police charged Delbueno with careless and reckless driving.
No one was hurt in the incident.
Store owner Lisa Whipple said she heard a "bump" and then a "loud explosion" when the accident happened.
"I came up and saw glass shatter and fall into a million pieces," she said. "Then I saw the back of a car sitting im my window."
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Comments
fugitiveguy 1 year ago
Police said Alex Bernard Delbueno, 82, of Pinehurst told them he confused the gas pedal for the break when he was backing up
Typo. Glad no one was injured.
fugitiveguy 1 year ago
Was it really neccesary to charge "careless and reckless"? Alex, I know a good attorney who can help you.
teufelhunden 1 year ago
Aww poor fellow. I'm glad no one was hurt.
Bflat 1 year ago
It's a good thing Pinehurst doesn't have "back in parking" that is angled.
NORBVR 1 year ago
How can you charge him with "wreckless" (sic), when he had a wreck? Did they give him a "break"(sic)?
fugitiveguy 1 year ago
That is a cool name. I wonder if he is famous.
DoubleHeroides 1 year ago
Actually Bflat this may have been prevented by back in angle parking. He quite obviously was in the downtown area and backed into a parked car while trying to leave a parking space. Leaving a parking space would have been the only reason he would have had to be “backing out” otherwise it would have said he “drove into a parked car” or something similar, especially in such close proximity to the storefronts.
Backing into the space to park and then pulling forward to leave the space he would have been able to see all of the vehicles in front of him, not hit a car, not become befuddled, not confuse the gas for the brake, and subsequently not drive his car through a storefront.
But that is all just conjecture.
coffecreme 1 year ago
Something is not right with this scenario. Why would his back end have gone through the window? If he had hit the other car behind him backing up would he not have then gone forward!
pulledpork 1 year ago
If Pinehurst had reverse angle back-in parking and he hit the gas instead of the break, maybe he could taken the whole store out and half of Theo's for good measure....
doughnuts 1 year ago
Another reason not to shop in Pinehurst.
lakeview 1 year ago
fugitiveguy 2 hours, 22 minutes ago Was it really neccesary to charge "careless and reckless"? Alex, I know a good attorney who can help you.
FG- There is no such thing as a good attorney.
Flabbergasted 1 year ago
Double H, It is parallel parking in front of this store. Bflat was just being funny on the ridiculousness of the idea that Southern Pines even entertained the thought.
fugitiveguy 1 year ago
"FG- There is no such thing as a good attorney."
Well, I guess you've never heard of Jackie Charles.
Jackie Chiles - The Coffe Case (el caso del café) by unrayochacha1981
SH59 1 year ago
It seems like the issue is about an elderly man making a mistake. What about the elderly having to pass driving tests with the DMV on a more regular basis. I've known 90 year old's driving when they shouldn't be. It's a real problem in our area and needs to be addressed.
emb6683 1 year ago
"There is no such thing as a good attorney"
Visitor in town: Do you have any criminal attornies here? Local resident: Yes we do, they just haven't been convicted yet.
Thatcher 1 year ago
A good lawyer? You need Lionel Hutz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u9JAt6gFqM.
JD 1 year ago
http://youtu.be/4P7_t4-WsB8
RmeMP 1 year ago
Sh59: because it would be political suicide... As much as we SHOULD do it, it won't happen.
emb6683 1 year ago
What's the DMV requirement for seniors to renew their driver's licenses? Do you continue to get a five year renewal even after you are 75 years old? Do you ever have to do another behind-the-wheel test?
If a child had been standing behind the window and had been killed, the comments here wouldn't be so light hearted. (Including mine!)
clarabelle 1 year ago
I am amazed that there are so "many" comments about a relatively trivial incident. Not much to do in Pinehurst............
LeeMcGraw 1 year ago
Glad all are safe. There is nothing wrong with a drive thru Gallery. Some people are busy and only have time for a quick Gallery visit. All creative ideas are met with some criticism. Stay strong and hold to your idea.
buckmark 1 year ago
Maybe he can get Dusty to help.
ladylane 1 year ago
He's not famous he's rich.
witness2 1 year ago
He was just checking out the new "back in" parking that Southern Pines bikers were purposing down town. A good example of what might have been prevented there. Sorry for the elderly gentleman but when do you have to give you your driving privilege, probably not his first accident. Glad no one was struck by the car.
witness2 1 year ago
Unfortunately as we age especially into our 80s we can no longer turn our heads as well, so back in parking probably would not have helped this situation her would likely back into someone or something. This is probably a common occurence in Pinehurst and other aging communities.
mcguy1 1 year ago
@fugitiveguy-I believe your first comment has the typo. A car trying to stop is brakes. If a glass jar falls off the counter then it will break.
MarkinMiami 1 year ago
probably wouldn't have made the news if it was in Aberdeen lol. I like to read the Pilot headlines. they're not as depressing at the Miami Herald's.
Dory2012 1 year ago
There certainly are some fine lawyers in our county. So why would Aberdeen choose as their town attorney one from the prestigious and quite expensive Brough Law Group in Chapel Hill. Just some food for thought for taxpayers.
lfc 1 year ago
I am surprized at how many of you commented on this article and not one of you commented on the unneccesary greif, wasted time and revenue loss for this business owner. I was there, I see what the owner is going through...you all have no idea of what this has done to her!
clarabelle 1 year ago
lfc - I am certain they have insurance......... such is life!
fugitiveguy 1 year ago
"@fugitiveguy-I believe your first comment has the typo. A car trying to stop is brakes. If a glass jar falls off the counter then it will break."
Negative, I had copied and pasted a line in the story which contained the typo which has since been corrected. Hence, the first word in my second sentence is "typo". I forgot to add quotation marks around the pasted sentence.
AbdominalDohMan 1 year ago
"Delbueno's 2010 Lincoln was parallel parked in front of Gemma Gallery at the time of the accident." If this was true, then the store actually attacked the man's car and I see an opportunity for him to alleviate this reckless store owner of some funds.
AbdominalDohMan 1 year ago
Who wrote this? Who proof read this? "The gentleman tried backing up and when he backed up HIE hit the gas and clipped a car behind him and then continued up the curb and took out the whole front window of the business," said Deputy Chief Floyd Thomas. "I came up and saw glass shatter and fall into a million pieces," she said. "Then I saw the back of a car sitting IM my window." Geez.