Aug. 1, 2022

A high-speed crash early Sunday destroyed a fuel pump station at Taylor’s Pantry and damaged the building.

The driver walked away from the crash and was arrested, owner Heather Taylor said.

“We’re looking at $80,000 to $100,000 of damage,” she said.

The store was able to open on time at 8 a.m. Sunday with four of its five pump stations operating and temporary repairs to the door.

The store’s security camera captured the accident as it happened at 2:30 a.m., Taylor said. She shared it on the Facebook page for GoodSpirits Fine Wine & Liquor, which is inside the gas station’s convenience store.

Photos courtesy of GoodSpirits Fine Wine & Liquor

“He was headed south on Minnesota Avenue from the preliminary investigation,” she said. “He lost control right before McDonald’s, cut that corner and did damage on that corner. .. He came into the parking lot up through our landscaping, sheared off the sewer vent pipe, which is the least of our worries, sheared off one of the pumps with the underneath and front of his car. He hit the stainless steel ‘dead man’s’ post that we have to protect the pumps, but he came at it from a direction that folks don’t. The nose of the car went through two canopy poles (as it flipped) and hit the front of the store.

“The bright light in the video is the explosion from the remaining gas in the pump when customers use it,” Taylor said, noting that the fire suppression system in place kept the flames from reaching the underground fuel tank.

“This young man was lucky to walk away,” she said.

She’s waiting to learn more from the detective in charge of the case but said the driver “claims he has insurance.”

Taylor said the business was able to reopen thanks to G&D Viking Glass, which came out at 4:30 a.m. to secure the building, and Redi Towing, which removed the car and cleaned up fluids from the crash.

She’ll likely still need to have the pavement pressure washed, the pump and front door system will have to be replaced, the exterior of the building will need to be repaired, and it’s possible the security system will have to be replaced.

“The list is endless,” she said of the damage.

Jeremiah Larenzo Hudson, 26, of Sioux Falls was arrested later that day in Brandon and charged with reckless driving, hit-and-run, DWI and possession of marijuana, Office Sam Clemens said in the Monday morning police briefing.

Hudson was southbound on Minnesota when he attempted to turn east onto 41st Street and lost control, Clemens said.