A driver who crashed his vehicle into the United States Postal Services building in El Dorado on Monday thought he was hitting the brake, according to an El Dorado Police Department report.
Sidney Pylot, 72, of El Dorado pulled into a parking space at the USPS and tried to hit the brake to put his 2012 Ford Fusion into park, but instead hit the gas, "causing the vehicle to lunge forward and strike the building," the report states.
Police were dispatched to the scene of the accident shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. Upon arrival, they found Pylot still in his vehicle, which was lodged in the building. Pylot was unable to get out until the vehicle was pulled out of the building by a tow truck.
No one was injured in the accident and as of Thursday, Pylot was not facing any charges related to the crash. According to the police report, "it is unknown if charges are pending."
Becky Hernandez, a spokesperson for the USPS, said both the outer wall of the building and an inside conference room were damaged in the accident.
"All operations continued without disruption," Hernandez said in an email. "Damages are currently being assessed, and the timeframe for completion of repairs is not known at this time."
By Thursday, the hole in the USPS building had been covered with a tarp, secured with a cinderblock and grommets, and the area around where the crash occurred had been taped off. Hernandez said the hole in the outer wall is secured.
"We appreciate our customers' patience and understanding as we work to make the necessary repairs," Hernandez said. "The safety and well-being of both customers and employees is of the utmost importance to the U.S. Postal Service."
A tarp has been placed on the USPS building in El Dorado to cover the hole left by a driver who crashed into the building on Monday. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)