CHATHAM, Columbia County, N.Y., Oct. 2, 2026 — Two people were injured on Thursday morning, October 1, when a car crashed into a Stewart's Shops store on Church Street in Chatham, New York, according to the Chatham Fire Department. The building was evacuated and closed while crews secured the structure.
Columbia County 911 dispatched the Chatham Fire Department, Chatham Rescue Squad, Chatham Police Department and New York State Police at about 10:07 a.m. to the store at 30 Church Street after reports of a vehicle crashing into the building with someone trapped inside. Crews arrived to find a car lodged in the building and one person who needed to be freed from inside.
New York State Police said the driver, an 82-year-old man, was attempting to park in the store's lot when the vehicle accelerated and went through the side wall of the building. The car came to rest partially inside a wall separating the building's exterior from a bathroom. Chatham Rescue took the person who was trapped to an area hospital for treatment. A woman told a local news outlet that her daughter was hurt while in the bathroom when the car came through and is expected to recover, though that account has not been confirmed by authorities.
Fire personnel and the Village of Chatham Department of Public Works shut off utilities and secured the building after the crash. The Town of Chatham Building Inspector checked the structure before the scene was turned over to Stewart's Shops corporate facilities staff for assessment and repairs. The fire department asked the public to avoid the area and follow posted closures. The store may remain closed for some time while repairs are made, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Why Distraction Turns an Ordinary Parking Lot Into a Crash Scene
Parking lot crashes like this one usually come down to a split-second mix-up between the gas and brake pedals, and distraction is frequently what keeps a driver from catching the error in time. When attention drifts, even briefly, a driver's foot can land on the wrong pedal and stay there longer than it should, because the brain hasn't registered the mistake yet.
Low speed doesn't mean low risk. A vehicle only needs a few feet of unexpected acceleration to clear a parking space, cross a sidewalk, and reach a storefront. Drivers back into or pull through tight lots every day without incident because they're watching closely; the moment that attention lapses, there's no time left to correct course before contact.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 2,442,581 people were injured in traffic crashes in 2023. Many of those crashes, like building strikes in commercial lots, happen at low speeds where a half-second of lost focus is the difference between a close call and a car going through a wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does weather or road surface play a role in crashes like this?
Rain, ice, or loose gravel in a parking lot can affect traction and stopping distance, but pedal confusion and distraction cause many low-speed building strikes regardless of conditions.
What should someone do right after a car accident?
Check for injuries, call 911, and avoid moving anyone who may be seriously hurt unless there's immediate danger. Stay back from damaged structures until emergency crews confirm it's safe.
Where do most of these crashes tend to occur?
Parking lots, gas stations, and other spaces with tight turns and close storefronts see frequent low-speed crashes, usually tied to momentary driver error rather than high-speed driving.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Chatham, New York
If you're involved in or witness a crash like this, move to a safe distance and call 911 right away. Even if injuries seem minor, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since shock can mask pain or injury in the first hours afterward.
Cooperate with responding police and fire crews, and follow any evacuation or closure instructions they give, especially near a damaged building where the structure's safety hasn't yet been confirmed. Keep a record of what you saw or experienced in case it's needed later, and give yourself time to process the event; even a low-speed crash can be unsettling for everyone nearby.
