Driver says brakes failed, causing SUV to crash into building

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — The driver of an SUV that crashed into a Wilkinsburg business Monday afternoon told detectives that his brakes failed.

Ed Stout’s silver Jeep Grand Cherokee crashed into the AutoZone on Penn Avenue around 12:30 p.m.

“I was pulling up and pulling into the parking spot. I put on the brake and just kept going forward,” Stout told Channel 11’s Renee Kaminski.

Stout said he was stopping in for an oil filter when his brakes failed.

“I stepped on the brake and the car jerked forward. I stepped on the brake again and it kept going. Finally I got it to stop and wound up where it is,” Stout said.

Authorities said an employee had to quickly jump out of the way and narrowly avoided getting hit.

Wilkinsburg police didn’t charge Stout and said everyone is fortunate there weren’t too many people in the store.

“We were wearing seat belts. I’m kind of a stickler for that,” Stout said.

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WPXI