AURORA, Ind. — Five cars were totaled, and six more were damaged after an Indiana teen fell asleep behind the wheel and drifted into a used car lot, police said.
According to Aurora police, 18-year-old Matthew Roland nodded off while driving his father’s pickup truck along U.S 50 over the weekend. That when, police said, he crashed into 11 vehicles for sale at Lawrence Motorsports.
Roland’s father declined a request for comment, but did tell WCPO that his son, who was uninjured in the crash, was headed to a friend’s house to help with some roof work.
“It’s hard to believe one vehicle could do so much damage,” said Mike Lawrence, who owns the dealership. Lawrence said the damaged stock makes up more than half his inventory.
Lawrence said he’d only entered the car business in the last few years, but that he and others on staff have seen the risks of locating a dealership along a busy highway.
“They’ve hit cars before, but nothing of this magnitude,” said Rick Shulte, who works at Lawrence.
Now, Lawrence worries how he’ll continue to put food on the table.
“I’ll pull through it,” he said. “It’s going to be tough.”
