Man, 51, cited after crashing into building
By John Joyce
Published in News on July 6, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
A car driven by Negussie Ketema Betele, 51, of Lockhaven Drive crashed into a vacant building at 515 E. Ash St. on Thursday morning. No one was reported injured, but Goldsboro police are still investigating the accident to determine how the driver lost control. Betele refused transport to the hospital. Damage to the building was estimated at $10,000. (story on page 3A)
A driver was cited by Goldsboro police Thursday for failure to maintain lane control after crashing into a local storefront.
Negussie Ketema Betele, 51, 103 W. Lockhaven Drive, was turning right onto Ash Street when he lost control of his vehicle and arrived abruptly at his unintended destination. Betele crashed head-on into a building at 515 E. Ash St., formerly occupied by Battleground Ministries, smashing the front end of his vehicle and leaving bricks and debris strewn around the adjacent lot.
Owners of the building were called to survey the damage, estimated at $10,000.
According to witnesses, Betele narrowly missed a pedestrian as his vehicle jumped the curb -- and that might be what put him into the building.
Employees at the neighboring business, Duke's Discount Beauty Supply, heard the impact and rushed to the driver's aid dialing 911.
"It sounded like an 18-wheeler flipping over," said one employee who asked that her name not be used. "I came outside and the car was in the building, his face was in the airbag."