City Times Staff

The newspaper vending machine in front of the City Times/Buyer’s Guide office was destroyed in a late-morning car accident Saturday morning.

The vending machine is popular among residents in the Park Ridge area, many of whom make a habit of picking up the paper during their Saturday morning walks through the neighborhood.

Amy Zrdoik, owner and proprietor of Redesign Coach, a chalk paint store located next door to the newspaper office, witnessed the incident and called 911.

Zrdoik said an 86-year-old driver of of a Chevy SUV accidentally hit the accelerator, crashing into the front of the building around 11:30 AM.

“I saw it [happen], and I don’t remember hearing anything because I think my vision just kind of took over,” Zdroik said. “I was talking to a customer, and she saw my reaction.”

Zdroik said the driver was “very upset”.

“I asked her several times if she was okay, and she said she was. I kept saying to her, ‘It could have been a lot worse’,” Zdroik said. “Accidents happen.”

It was not immediately known if the driver was cited.

Copies of this week’s City Times are available just down the block at Walgreen’s, 10 Park Ridge Drive.