Woman crashes into store, then tries to buy beer

[July 02, 2008]  NORWALK, Calif. (AP) -- A convenience store became an unwilling drive-in when a 74-year-old woman plowed her car through the front window and then tried to buy a six-pack of Budweiser, police and the owner said.

Lynne Rice of Norwalk drove her 1988 Cadillac into Joe's Food Mart and Video on Sunday evening, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Jenny Ha said.

The car plowed about halfway through the store but nobody was injured. Rice got out of the car, walked over to the cooler and pulled out a six-pack of Budweiser beer, said the store owner, who gave only his last name, Awada, to the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

"I don't know how she managed to walk," Awada said, adding a cashier declined the sale and instead called police.

Rice was taken to a hospital for examination because she had a pre-existing medical condition, Ha said.

She was also arrested for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and released on $15,000 bail, authorities said.

Rice could not be reached for comment Tuesday. There was no telephone listing with her name in Norwalk.

Awada said the crash destroyed two 6-foot-wide glass panels. Damage was put at about $8,000.

[Associated Press]

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