Sisters driver, 91, crashes into store; no injuries

A 91-year-old Sisters man crashed his SUV into the front entrance of a clothing store on East Cascade Avenue Saturday morning when he mistakenly hit the accelerator, instead of the brake, but there were no injuries, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Deputies responded around 10:30 a.m. to the crash in the parking lot of Common Threads, Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp said.

They found Donald Zerbe had driven his silver 2012 Subaru Outback over a parking lot curb and crashed through the front entrance of the store, Vander Kamp said. While the store was open and a worker was present at the time, no injuries were reported.

An investigation determined Zerbe was trying to park in front of the store when he mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal, the sergeant said. The crash did “substantial damage to the building and the store’s inventory,” Vander Kamp said in a news release.

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District personnel evaluated Zerbe and assessed the damage to the building.

No citations have been issued at this time, but Vander Kamp said the crash report will be forwarded to the DMV for review.