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No injuries after pickup truck strikes Kum & Go gas station
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 02, 2025
While a pickup truck crashing into the front of Kum & Go on March 27 caused damage and created a mess inside the building, no one suffered injuries, according to authorities.
According to a West Branch Police Department report by Chief Greg Hall, Richard Joseph Furchtenicht, 84, of West Branch mistakenly pressed on the gas instead of the brake while trying to park.
The crash caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the building and $1,000 in damage to the pickup.
Furchtenicht’s navy blue 1995 Ford F250 popped up on the sidewalk and collided first with a display of bottled products and then the wall, breaking the window and glass bottles on the interior shelves. The crash also knocked over interior display cases and pushed items off shelves.
Hall reported that Furchtenicht was wearing his seat belt and was not injured.
At Hall’s request, West Branch Fire Department sent EMTs to evaluate Furchtenicht out of concern he may have suffered from “cognitive issues.”
“The driver ... thought he was pressing the brake and was pressing the accelerator (pedal) causing the vehicle to increase speed and collide with the east side of the (Kum & Go) causing extensive damage to the building,” read the report.
Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman recommended the store manager cordon off the area, especially with broken glass still hanging in the window frame, to prevent injury.
Hall did not list any citations against Furchtenicht.
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