Minivan jumps curb to tak out BMW Z3

GILFORD — A man escaped serious injury yesterday afternoon after he apparently drove his minivan over a curb defining the Wendy's restaurant parking lot, struck a BMW Z3 and pushed it through the wall of German Motorsports on Lake Shore Road.

Police at the scene said it appears the man was pulling into a parking space at Wendy's but failed to stop, crossing over an 18-inch wide raised curb before striking the other car.

The force of the crash pushed the right rear quarter of the BMW through the building, knocking a toolbox belonging to one of the mechanics off its base.

"I was just working under a car (on a lift) when, bam," said the mechanic who gave his name as Bill. "I almost had a heart attack."

A view from the inside of Bill's work bay showed crumbled cement blocks and stucco on the floor with the rear quarter of the BMW jutting about four inches into the building.

Bill's toolbox was pushed about four inches away from the wall.

Gilford Fire Captain Rick Andrews said the driver declined to be transported by ambulance to the hospital but said he would likely seek treatment on his own, accompanied by a family member.

Andrews said Building Inspector Dave Andrade came and inspected the building and declared it sound before the car was pulled out of it.

Both cars were towed.

CUTLINE – (BMW Z3 into wall) A BMW sits crushed between a minivan and a wall yesterday afternoon at German Motorsports on Lake Shore Road in Gilford. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Ober)

(BMW Z3 into wall) Stucco and cement blocks strew the inside of one of the work bays at German Motorsports on Lake Shore Road in Gilford yesterday afternoon after a BMW was pushed through the wall by a minivan. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Gail Ober)