Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE  — Tire marks,  a reminder of a terrifying accident, were still visible across Wal-Mart’s floor Sunday morning when the business reopened.

About 1:30 p.m. Saturday, a white Ford F-150 pickup smashed through both of the north entrance glass doors of Wal-Mart, clipping the makeup aisle and demolishing the jewelry counter.

Sunday, the area was blocked off by shelving, plywood and police tape. Clothing racks and boxes of rugs filled the area that was once a glass jewelry display and a sign hung by the photo counter reading, “unsure when the equipment will be up and running again. We hope soon but it may take us longer.”

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The truck had pushed everything into the photo area, damaging some of the equipment, said a Wal-Mart employee. Workers spent all night cleaning and rearranging, and the fire marshal did a final walk-through before the business opened again at about 8 a.m. Sunday.

Besides the physical damage, the incident sent approximately nine people, including the driver, to the hospital, said Montrose City Police Chief Tom Chinn.

The driver was 58-year-old Montrose resident Joe Szymanoski, who was identified by his daughter, Sheila Garrison.

Garrison said three months ago, Szymanoski suffered a massive heart attack and had open heart surgery and a quadruple bypass. He had moved to Montrose six weeks ago to be closer to his family and Sheila, who is a nurse.

“He has been healing slowly and was waiting to see if he needed an internal cardiac defibrillator. What happened today proved that he does,” she said, and added that he was not told not to drive.

Witnesses of the incident said they saw Szymanoski in his car slumped back on his seat and his mouth agape right before the truck struck the front entrance. They also stated that the truck’s accelerator was floored by that time.

Garrison said Szymanoski was very upset this morning and concerned for those injured. “I want them to know that he would never hurt anyone intentionally and that he is a good, caring and kind person,” she said.

Two engines and three ambulances were dispatched, said Montrose Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Allen Weese.

“I think we were all expecting to see a lot more casualties and fatalities as a result of something like this just because of the nature of what occurred,” Chinn said. “We are all very fortunate that we didn’t have more injured then we had.”

Chinn said that the Montrose Police Department had most everyone working at the scene. He said some off-duty officers who were shopping also responded, along with the Colorado State Patrol and Montrose County Sheriff’s Office.

Garrison said her father suffered a massive heart attack and only remembers backing out of the parking space to come home. She was told that two off-duty officers pulled his foot off the accelerator and performed CPR. She said someone else grabbed a defibrillator, all of which “saved his life.”

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber said some associates were treated and released from the hospital. One associate is still being treated, she said, and is expected to recover.

Chinn did not release the names of those injured by press time.

Another Wal-Mart employee said she was at the hospital for non-related reasons when her co-workers were brought in. There were three females behind the glass counters of the jewelry department at the time of the accident, she said, adding that one woman suffered minor lacerations across the back, another had stitches and another had a broken pelvis and an ankle injury.

Szymanoski had not been released from the hospital as of 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Montrose Memorial Hospital. However, the hospital would not release his condition.

Garrison did say that her father was in critical condition in the ICU at Montrose Memorial Hospital. She is hoping they will be able to fly him to Colorado Springs today to install the internal defibrillator.

Wal-Mart will remain open during the construction, said Weber, and currently employees are “just trying to get back to normal.”

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Daily Press Writers Robert Allen and Lisa Huynh contributed to this story.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com

Comments

Sheila wrote on Jan 14, 2008 7:52 AM:

" My father is hanging in there. I want everyone to know that we are just trying to survive. To CDL driver, I hope that you get all the hardships that you rightfully deserve one day and good luck to whoever is around you because you sound like a very bitter unforgiving person. To 99% of Montrose; Thank you so much for what you have done for my Dad. Your prayers are so appreciated. My Dad got the device that he needed and just wants to raise his 11 year old son now. "




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compassion wrote on Jan 13, 2008 8:28 PM:

" first of all I hope Mr Szymanoski is doing better. second of all Id like to say, B.K any one of us healthy or not can have a medical prob. I have (as a medic) picked up lots of people who "just went to the Dr and was told there heart was fine" only to find they just had a major heart attack. A heart attack, stroke, can happen to anyone any time regaurdless of medical history "




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Jason Jackson wrote on Jan 12, 2008 6:33 PM:

" I was working at the time it all happened in the tire and lube area it was a accident give it up just let it rest quit making a big deal out of it let it rest ACCIDENT do happen "




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B.K. wrote on Jan 12, 2008 11:55 AM:

" I think that the man should NOT have been driving.If you have a history of heart problems and you could have a heart attack anytime it is common sense not to drive!The man should be held responsible for all the damage he did.I don't care if he meant to or not.He hurt people and ruined lives.I know for a fact people are suffering post traumatic stress from the crash.It is a miracle that people were not killed!Health problems or not he is guilty and responsible!The daughter should have driven him if she knew he had healh problems.Its not that hard! "




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CDL DRIVER wrote on Jan 12, 2008 9:49 AM:

" EVERY DAY. PEOPLE TOLD NOT TO DRIVE. (NO INSURANCE, SUSPENEDED LICENSE, MEDICAL ISSUE, IMMAGRATION) ARE OUT THERE. AND COMMENTS ARE ONLY ONE MAN.?! WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR. THINK ABOUT IT AS A TWO WAY STREET. HEADS UP.WHICH ONE ARE YOU? ONE WITH INSURANCE OR ONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE A CHANCE AND POSSIABLE TO HURT SOMEONE, NOT MEANNING TOO.THIS ONLY ONE STORY.OTHER STORIES NOT REPORTED TO PUBLIC. I PRAY HE WILL RECOVER. FIRGIVE AND FORGET. "




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Annie wrote on Jan 11, 2008 10:52 AM:

" What about the people on their knees that at first everyone thought were praying when in acutality were scooping up as much jewelry as they could? You know in this town the chances of someone seeing you that knows you is obviously high! I hope that the security camaras show every one of you and that the sherriff is able to arrest all of you!!! "




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Jim wrote on Jan 10, 2008 3:08 PM:

" Sheila: How is your father doing? Can we get an update. Thanks "




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just me wrote on Jan 10, 2008 2:33 PM:

" just leave the poor guy and his family alone, it was an accident. throwing blame around wont change anything, it happened. i wish him well, he has to be suffering both physically and emotionally from this, it is very sad. "




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OJ wrote on Jan 9, 2008 6:42 PM:

" OK, enough of the bickering. If he was never told not to drive, then he should have been told or at least used some commen sense. At any rate, maybe the city will now look at building plans a bit closer and realize the damn poles are TOO FAR APART!!! What good are they? There may be some liability with that at Wal Mart's end but I doubt it. They will slither out of that one too. "




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just me wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:17 PM:

" ahha i see that, it is just bad wording there with the double nots that make it easy to misread that. poor writing on that as well as reading too fast. "




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Nikki wrote on Jan 9, 2008 9:33 AM:

" I can't believe the comment on him about he was not supposed to drive. Read and you will see he was never told to NOT drive or else he wouldn't have. Joe is an amazing, caring man and if you knew him you wouldn't question that. He is fighting for his life and very concerned about those hurt. God Bless everyone involved. God Bless you Joe and I love you. "




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Sheila Garrison wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:23 PM:

" I was quoted in this story as saying that he was NOT TOLD TO NOT DRIVE- meaning that there was NOT ANY RESTRICTION on his driving. Can you people read??? Please do not forget that my father is FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW!!! "




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just me wrote on Jan 7, 2008 10:39 PM:

" Think the doctor would have had to fill out the medical form the DMV requires in order to prevent him from driving. It appears he was only advised not to drive and was not driving on a revoked license and insurance. This is a good time for everyone to check their liability limits seeing this crazy situation. The last set of liability numbers on your policy is all insurance would pay Walmart for the damage, any more and they will sue you. $15,000 is all Colorado requires. Think there was more than that there. "




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with held wrote on Jan 7, 2008 10:32 PM:

" in regards to Mr. Wilke, if you read or heard right, Mr Szymanoski was NOT told that he can't or shouldn't drive. This indeed WAS an accident and should be handled as well. I'm an employee at the Delta Wal-Mart and our hearts and prayers go out to ALL involved in this matter!! "




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Kelli Holman wrote on Jan 7, 2008 10:16 PM:

" I think that it’s important to remember all of the victims in this sad story. While I understand that it’s hard to feel bad for a person who has injured so many innocent people, it was an accident. If we can take a step back and put ourselves in his position we would realize that this otherwise kind, well intentioned, man probably feels awful and will have to live with this the rest of his life. This whole thing could have been so much worse, let’s pull together as a community and show that we can forgive when appropriate. "




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Richard Wilke wrote on Jan 7, 2008 7:06 PM:

" If Mr.Szymanoski had followed his doctors order and not driven, this "accident" would not have happened. While he is not facing criminal charges, civil action is pretty much guaranteed. "




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Cody Charron wrote on Jan 7, 2008 4:23 PM:

" My comment is in regards to the audacious attitude and remarks of the police officer speaking on this matter on the local televised news.He was sure to point out the possible criminal charges that could have been incurred, had this not been an accident. Well, sir, this WAS in fact an accident, and this citizen feels that your inconsiderate neglect to mention our city's remorse for the driver, a victim, was uncalled for and not a quality I no doubt feel we all look for in our trusted officials. "




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