People cleaned up damage after a car crashed into the Treasure Trove Toy Store.
Just one day after a car smashed into the front of a downtown Harrisburg business, the shop was already back open for business.
“This isn’t going to keep us down,” said Treasure Trove Toy Store owner Jason Crocenzi, who sat in the storefront on Monday.
On Sunday, Oct. 6, at about 3:15 p.m. the Harrisburg Police Bureau responded to reports of a car accident on the 300-block of N. 2nd St. According to police, a car driving down the street veered off the road and struck multiple buildings, including a pedestrian, who has died. Pennlive reported that the Dauphin County coroner has identified the deceased man as Eusebio Forestier, 68. The driver, the only occupant of the car, is in a local hospital in critical condition, police stated.
The Treasure Trove was significantly damaged as a result of the incident. However, according to Crocenzi, none of their staff was injured. While Crocenzi wasn’t in the store at the time of the crash, his wife and co-owner Jennifer Draisey-Crocenzi was and ran into the back of the building just as the car careened into the store.
Crocenzi said that the deceased man, who was in a wheelchair, was a customer and had just left the shop.
Crocenzi said there was glass covering the shop floor from the smashed windows and significant damage to the front of the building. He estimated that Treasure Trove lost thousands of dollars in products and that repairs to the building may take months.
“When the car hit, we thought a bomb went off,” said Daniel Hudgens, an employee who was at the shop during the incident. “It was just devastation.”
The Treasure Trove, left, on Sunday following the accident
The toy store has become known in the community as a hub for the unhoused to receive help. The Crocenzis said that they regularly give out food, clothing and personal care items to those who visit the shop and have helped several unhoused people find apartments.
Even following Sunday’s tragic events, Crocenzi said they are determined to remain in the city. He decided to open the day after the crash so that there wouldn’t be a lapse in service to the community.
“I didn’t want to not have a resource for people,” he said. “It doesn’t deter me from being here. Sometimes, you have to be where the people are to help them and this is where the people are who need help.”
Police are still investigating the incident and have not yet released a cause for the car crash.
Crocenzi said that, soon after the accident, the gas company came to shut off the gas, due to a pipe being struck. By Monday afternoon much of the debris had been cleaned up, windows were boarded up and people worked to continue clean up and repairs.
“We had a lot of customers and friends come and help us clean up,” Crocenzi said.
Treasure Trove Toy Store closed early today, but will return to its regular hours later this week.
For more information, visit the Treasure Trove Toy Store on Facebook.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
