Sedan Crashes Into Ballwin-Area Tailor Shop

A sedan crashed through a storefront around 3 p.m. Wednesday just outside Ballwin, marking the second time in recent years that a vehicle has driven through the front entrance of . No one was injured.

Store manager Marina Torosyan said the first incident, which occurred when a truck crashed through the storefront roughly 5 years ago, left even more damage. Repairs took about 6 weeks to complete when the first crash occurred.

"The first time was much worse," Torosyan said. "But still, it's really nasty."

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Torosyan said there were two employees at the store when the crash occurred, both of whom were working in the back.

"I was so scared I almost passed out," Torosyan said. "I'm so lucky we had nobody working in the front."

Torosyan said the business's owner, who was on vacation when the incident occurred, does have the building insured.

Sandy Charpentier, who works next door at Art-Biz Gallery, said she and her co-workers quickly came outside after hearing the "boom" from the collision.

"We knew from the times it was hit before that that was exactly what happened," Charpentier said. "We've heard crashes out on Manchester sometimes but this was right next door."

The vehicle's driver, whose name was not immediately available Wednesday, said she had never been in a car accident before.

"It was like a nightmare," she said. The driver was heading to to pick up clothing when the accident happened.

Torosyan said she did not know why her business appeared to be a target for accidents, but noted that drivers frequently ignore the plaza's designated entrance and exit ways.

"This place is really bad because people come in from Manchester from (the wrong) entrance."