A South Haven man is in custody after police said he crashed into a Family Express convenience store in Liberty Township and then drove away, causing $80,000 in damage to the building.
Javier Zamora, 32, is charged with misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of an accident and false reporting, according to a report from the Porter County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies were called at 10:01 a.m. Wednesday to the Family Express on U.S. 6 in Liberty Township after Zamora reportedly crashed into the building, reversed his vehicle and left without providing his driver’s license, insurance information or vehicle registration to anyone inside the business.
An employee who was behind the counter at the time of the crash told police she saw a gold Chevrolet passenger car pull into one of the parking spots and then crash into the front of the building, and then reverse and drove northbound through the parking lot toward the exit.
Witnesses provided police with Zamora’s license plate number for a 2008 Chevrolet Impala and he was found minutes after the crash at home alone. His car was found in the garage with what appeared to be fresh damage to the front bumper and headlight, police said.
Zamora first said his father was the one who drove the vehicle but that was determined to be false, which Zamora reportedly admitted, according to police. Zamora then said his buddy named Dave or David drove the vehicle, but then indicated his buddy was not on scene and admitted he did not know his friend’s last name.
Zamora’s mother contradicted her son’s statement that his friend had spent the night at his residence the evening prior. His mother also indicated that the Impala belonged to her son.
