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Elmer's Aquarium Hopes To Re-Open After Car Smashed Into Building

MONROEVILLE (KDKA) – A local business is hoping to re-open today after a car plowed through their front doors over the weekend.

According to police, the accident happened around 2 p.m. at Elmer's Aquarium in Monroeville.

Police say an elderly woman was driving a Hyundai Elantra with a passenger in her car, when she crashed through the front of the store. The co-owner of the store says she hit the gas instead of the brake.

"Her car literally came through our front entrance. It smashed a shelving unit in the front and pushed the shelving unit back and pretty much just crashed into the store," co-owner of Elmer's Aquarium Karen Lukacsena said.

Around 50 people were inside at the time of the accident. Typically, children like to hang out by a fish pond at the front of the store. Fortunately, no one was injured.

"The good news is not one customer got hurt. The people in the car seemed to be okay. Our staff jumped out of the way as the shelving unit came towards them as they were bagging fish," Lukacsena said.

"I'm not sure if they would've heard the car coming or not, but that's so wonderful that nobody was injured," Kaneb said.

None of the fish in the store were harmed either.

For Gary Kaneb, the past two days have shown the loyalty of customers.

"Our customers have even volunteered to come in and help. But fortunately we have enough staff here that we got it all cleaned up," Kaneb said.

The family business has been around since 1969, but something like this is unprecedented.

"Everything's safe and we're gonna clean up the floor and you'll have to come in through a temporary door the next few weeks, that's all," Kaneb said.

The building inspector, who did a check on Saturday, said things are good to go. After the plywood is replaced with a temporary door, it will be business as usual.

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