Car crashes into deli section of new market

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - A rainy messy morning commute got even messier in downtown New Haven.

Crews were on hand to clean up a two-car accident that sent a Jeep barreling into the side of a supermarket.

Police said around 6:15 am, Donald Allen of New Haven was driving down State Street in his pickup truck. Allen went through a red light and smashed into the side of a Jeep driving west on Chapel Street.

The collision sent the Jeep careening through a bus shelter, across the sidewalk, and into a window of the Elm City Market . The market is on the ground floor of the new 360 State building. The store wasn't open yet, but workers were inside. They said they felt the whole building shake from the impact.

The Jeep's passenger side took the impact, leaving the door was crumpled and the passenger trapped inside for close to an hour. Firefighters had to cut away pieces of the car, and finally took the seats out and rescued the woman inside by taking her out the back.

She was alert and talking as they wheeled her to the ambulance.

Allen and the driver of the Jeep were also taken away in ambulances.

Chapel was closed between State and Orange Streets while the scene was being cleared. The road was reopened around 8:15 am.

Public Works crews tore down the rest of the bus shelter.

Fortunately, the bus shelter and the sidewalk were empty at the early hour and no other people were injured.

The cleanup went pretty quickly. The only lasting damage is the broken window at the Elm City Market, which will have to be replaced.