OBSERVER Photo by Jimmy McCarthy The Sheridan Convenience Store is boarded up after a Fredonia man crashed into the store Sunday. Owner Mark Greene says they’ll get the store back open.

SHERIDAN — A Fredonia man is facing charges after barreling through a local convenience store and causing extensive damage to the building as well as products and equipment inside.

The incident at the Sheridan Convenience Store on Sunday was caught on tape via the store’s surveillance footage. As 6:35 p.m. approached, a white SUV is seen veering off Route 20 near Route 39 at high rate of speed and heading straight to the building. The vehicle smashes all the way through the store to the back corner where drink coolers are located.

After crashing through the store, the operator, identified by New York State Troopers as Gary J. Epolito, proceeds to drive forward before trying to back up. The car’s stuck on debris created after crashing. Epolito exits the car after he was met by a local man who came in to see what was happening.

New York State Troopers who investigated the incident say Epolito, 40, admitted to consuming alcohol and huffing Ultra Duster, an air spray used to clean electronic equipment, while operating the vehicle. A report by troopers says Epolito told them that he “blacked-out” and did not remember driving into the building. Several field sobriety tests were administered to Epolito. Upon failing field sobriety tests, he was arrested and processed at State Police barracks in Fredonia. He was also found to be in possession of nine-and-a-half grams of marijuana.

Epolito’s being charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession of marijuana and he’ll appear in Sheridan Town Court later this month.

The incident didn’t result in any injuries to those who were inside the store at the time of the incident. The only individual inside who was near the vehicle’s oncoming path was a clerk who dodged away before it came crashing through.

Items and equipment inside that were destroyed by the incident couldn’t be saved, but Owner Mark Greene acknowleged that the store will reopen once everything is replaced. He thanked those who came out to provide help after the incident.

“We’ll get it going,” he said. “We appreciate all the support from the people who wanted to help out. The people around here are great.”

Here is a video of the incident, which shows just how fast the driver was going when the crash occurred:

View video of driver crashing into convenience store in Sheridan on Sunday. No one was injured. pic.twitter.com/3LfyKHWcWF

— The Observer (@TheObserverNY) July 10, 2018