ON THIS DAY: March 8, 2016, SUV crash lands on top of Greenfield Giant Eagle

GREENFIELD, Pa. — Drivers on Greenfield Avenue are supposed to follow the 25 mph speed limit, but those who don’t often find themselves surprised by a sharp right turn near Windsor Street.

Usually speeding cars hit the trees on the corner, but in 2016 an SUV threaded the needle and landed on the roof of the Greenfield Giant Eagle. The roof of the grocery store is nearly level on its back corner with Greenfield Avenue behind it.

Tuesday morning shoppers had their errands interrupted by the flying Kia Sorento, which also crashed through fencing and a brick wall before landing above them.

The SUV’s 42-year-old driver was not injured, but the impact on the store’s roof caused extensive damage. The waterproof roof membrane was torn. Gas and other fluids leaked down into the store and it was evacuated.

The driver claimed that he lost control when another driver cut him off, but police estimated he was going at least 60 mph when he failed to make the turn.

The Kia had to be craned off the roof by a specialized wrecker with a boom. The store suffered no structural damage and reopened later that day.

The 2016 crash wouldn’t be the last time a vehicle vaulted onto the store’s roof. A speeding drunken driver made the same airborne trip in 2018.

On Facebook, Pittsburgh police reminded drivers not to drink and drive because “We’ll find you if you do … especially if you end up on top of a Giant Eagle.”

Car ends up on roof of Greenfield Giant Eagle Car ends up on roof of Greenfield Giant Eagle

Cox Media Group