Driver mistakes pedal, crashes into Geel gift shop

A gift shop in Geel, Belgium, sustained significant damage when a car crashed through its storefront on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. at "Het Kaarsenhuisje" on Zammelseweg. According to the driver, he mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal as he was parking. The vehicle then drove directly into the shop's display window, pushing approximately three meters of shelving laden with porcelain and glass decorations into the store. The impact caused a loud noise, described by the shop owner, Bjorn Toebat, as comparable to emptying a glass container. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. Toebat mentioned that a customer had been near the damaged shelves just moments before the crash, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the falling items. The driver, who was reportedly picking up a package before attending his son's graduation, was visibly shaken but unharmed. His car, only three months old, suffered considerable scratches and dents. The driver explained that the anti-slip cover on his brake pedal was damaged and had not yet been repaired, causing his foot to slip onto the accelerator. "It can happen to anyone. Never say never," Toebat commented on the incident. The shop remains open, but a quarter of the space is cordoned off due to the damage. Repairs are pending window replacement, and with the upcoming construction holiday, it remains uncertain when the affected area will be fully operational again.

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He wanted to pick up a package before going to his son's graduation.