Man's truck rams into Meijer store

LIMA - A man took the back entrance into Meijer early Friday morning. Really, he made his own entrance.

John Conner, 20, of Brighton, Mich., was in fair condition Friday after crashing into the northwest corner of the Elida Road store.

Driving west behind the store just before 1 a.m., Conner lost control of his Ford pick-up truck, American Township Police Chief Larry Kunkleman said. He is a student at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

A store employee received minor injuries when he was hit by debris from the crash, said American Township Fire Lt. Brian Helmig. Crews took both the driver and employee to St. Rita's Medical Center. The name of the employee was not available Friday.

Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi said he had no information on the employee. The store will fully cooperate with police, he said.

The crash left at least a 3 feet wide, 4 feet tall hole in the concrete wall leading into a storeroom.

"It actually punched a hole in the rear of the building," Helmig said. The hole was boarded up later Friday.

The Allen County Urban Search and Rescue Team responded to make sure the building was structurally safe following the incident. The crash caused extensive damage, including to merchandise, Helmig said. An estimate has not been determined.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, Kunkleman said. It is still under investigation.