Massachusetts

Police: Drunk Driver Crashes Into Hertz Store in Quincy, Injures Employee

The driver was arrested for OUI, operating to endanger and speeding

A man was arrested on charges of operating under the influence after he crashed his truck into a building and struck a person in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Police say 53-year-old Alan Whiffen of Quincy was drunk behind the wheel, heading northbound on Route 3A when his pick up truck veered off the road and smashed into the Hertz Car Rental at 686 Southern Artery around 4:15 p.m. Monday.

The Hertz employee who was hit inside the building was taken to South Shore Hospital with minor cuts and bruises. He was discharged Monday night but he did not want to talk about what happened.

Grace Cuddy who witnessed the incident says it was a loud and dramatic crash.

"He was just like groaning in pain," Cuddy said of the employee who was hurt in the crash. "We heard a big bang across the street and we ran over and there there was smoke everywhere and a man came running out, like keeled over and holding his hand."

The truck smashed through walls and glass until it was all the way inside the building.

"It was really smoky, there was smoke everywhere, and we just saw a bunch of people get out of their cars and run over," Cuddy said.

Ron Thomas, an employee at another Hertz location, went to see what happened.

"We just heard from a customer that was driving by, and they just contacted us to let us know that it looked like a truck hit one of the offices in Quincy," he said."

Jezzica Zhang came to pick up a rental and at first thought the worst.

"It was pretty shocking. Just by looking at it, I thought there was a threat of something like a bomb," she said.

Whiffen was also charged with operating to endanger and speeding. It's not immediately clear if he has an attorney.

A Hertz employee told NBC10 Boston they hope to reopen Tuesday but that it may take a few days.

This incident is under investigation.

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