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By Ken Gustafson

 

AMERICUS — At approximately 2:07 p.m. on Wednesday, Barbara Jean Barthell of Americus accidentally crashed her 1999 Lexus GS300 into business of Lacy Paint & Body Shop, located at 103 Swett Ave. in Americus.

Janice Lacy, owner of the establishment, witnessed what happened.

“She (Barthell) just pulled up in the parking lot. I glanced out the window and she stopped, but not where she should have,” Lacy said. “Then next thing I know, like, she floored it and she went through the building … about killed me.”

Lacy said that Barthell had stopped when she glanced up and saw her, but the next thing she knew, the car came right into her office. Lacy said that Barthell brought the car in to get some red paint removed from its exterior.

“It looked to me like she may have gotten her brakes and gas mixed up. How else would you do that?” Lacy said.

According to Maj. Herman Lamar of the Americus Police Department, Barthell was taken to Phoebe Sumter Medical Center for treatment. No charges have been filed.