[cityviwnc.com – 2023.07.31] A vehicle carrying a woman and child crashed through a wall at Smitty’s Cleaners in Haymount just after midnight Monday, leaving the building with substantial damage, according to the Fayetteville Fire Department.
The crash occurred at 1220 Hay St. in the heart of Haymount. The business is at an often-busy intersection with Morganton Road, Oakridge Avenue and Fort Bragg Road.
The crash was reported about 12:20 a.m. Monday, according to Assistant Chief Fire Marshal TJ McLamb.
McLamb said the vehicle involved also sustained severe damage.
The driver of the vehicle was identified by the Fayetteville Police Department as 37-year-old Tierra Lambert. She was charged with failure to maintain a traffic lane, expired registration, and a seat-belt violation for a child who was in the vehicle.
Police Sgt. Alpha Caldwell said the charges were filed in a report and Lambert was not arrested.
According to both the police and fire departments, one person was taken by an emergency crew to the hospital for treatment.
Because of the extent of damage to Smitty’s Cleaners as well as the electrical components inside, Public Works Commission workers shut down power to the building.
McLamb said the damage means the business will have to get new permits from the city and “bring it back up to code.”
“When we do have these types of situations, we deem it to be an unsafe building,” said McLamb.
As of 10:30 a.m., the left-hand turn lane from Morganton Road onto Oakridge Avenue was blocked.
No one with Smitty’s Cleaners could be reached for comment. The Hay Street location is closed temporarily. Customers can pick up their clothing at Smitty’s locations at 2616 Raeford Road.
