‘Cry and pray and cuss’: Wilkie business owners face clean up after truck crashes into building

A 23-year-old Wilkie man has since been charged with four offences including operating a vehicle while impaired, operating a vehicle while over 80, careless use of a firearm and mischief over $5,000.

According to Wilkie RCMP, in the early morning hours the detachment received a 911 hang-up call and they went to investigate. When they arrived at the new location for Brooks Ohana Mind, Body and Soul and Brooks Ohana Landscaping and Handyman Services (formerly the Jana Electric Building) on 2 Ave. East, they found an empty truck stuck halfway out of the wall of the building.

The back end of the vehicle. (Submitted Photo/Greggory Brooks)

Police found the driver nearby and arrested him.

The Brooks’ said because of the eight by 10 hole the truck left in the side of the load-bearing wall of the building, they had to rebuild the cinderblock wall during a heavy snowstorm on Nov. 23 that dumped about 30 cms of snow in the province.

“We had to get all the supplies,” said Natasha. “We didn’t start until about 10:30 that morning – me and my husband and we didn’t get done until about 7:30 that night.”

The couple said the experience has left them shaken and frustrated.

“We don’t understand the process of this situation and and we haven’t been given that information,” said Greggory, noting as of yesterday, they have not had much communication with RCMP and have yet to hear from the lead investigator.

“They did call and left a message at 9 o’clock later that morning but I did not see that message,” he said.

The pair moved from New Mexico a few years ago to be closer to family, leave behind the political climate and, being used to order, rules and discipline, they said they are equally frustrated with the way their case has been handled and feel it isn’t being taken seriously.

“We’re big on procedures, having faith in your community,” said Natasha.

“It devastated me that on Monday – this person that ruined our whole lives showed up to our place of business where he ran into [with] his car and…said an apology and had the nerve to ask if he could retrieve his tools.”

In addition to the damage to the building, Greggory said based on the tire tracks, it happened at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control, took out a stop sign, and eventually slid over 200 feet.

“We work late in that building at night sometimes,” he said, explaining they’ve been setting up the business.

“If we would have been there, we wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”

According to the couple, because they had just moved into the building – mere doors away from their previous location that had been in operation for a year and a half – they had not yet gotten insurance. The owners were told by the insurance company to get things set up, then take pictures of the shop to submit for quotes.

Inside the building. (Submitted Photo/Greggory Brooks)

They estimate there is roughly $25,000 in damage to the building and about $10,000 in merchandise loss for Mind, Body and Soul. As such, they will be filing a victim report and requesting restitution.

“It was like a bomb exploded because when that wall exploded, it blew cinderblocks all the way to the other side,” said Greggory.

“I would say about 80 to 85 per cent of our products gone – destroyed.”

At the moment the pair are still cleaning and said part of the damage included the building being soaked in oil from the truck and large holes in the floor.

“We have been doing this all on our own, so picking through the damage, I had to take a break and cry and pray and cuss,” said Natasha.

“It’s been a process.”

Ultimately, they said they wanted to speak out and spread awareness for community safety.

“This was supposed to be a blessing, we were buying our own building,” she said. The accused will appear in Wilkie Provincial Court Feb. 24.

by Julia Lovett-Squires

‘Cry and pray and cuss’: Wilkie business owners face clean up after truck crashes into building

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