"Driver’s crash course damages Springfield Safeway, police say"

"Noella Yvonne Fay, 43, of Glenwood had been at the store about 4 p.m. Tuesday and tried to buy $2,200 worth of gift cards, according to Springfield police. Safeway sells gift cards that can be used at a variety of retailers, including Starbucks, Nordstrom and iTunes."

But when Fay’s check bounced, she was refused the sale, which prompted her to become angry and leave the store, police said.

At 12:23 a.m. Wednesday, Fay allegedly returned and parked her sport utility vehicle in front of the store’s west doors, blocking the entrance. She was yelling about wanting her gift cards, police said.

A Safeway employee told Fay she needed to move her vehicle before they could discuss the gift card issue any further. It was then, police said, that Fay drove her sport utility vehicle through the west side of the store.

Fay drove the Tahoe down an aisle almost to the back of the store, police said. She then allegedly reversed the SUV back to the front of the aisle, turned the car toward the deli and drove between the aisle ends and the checkstands. She then drove the vehicle out the east doors and into the parking lot, police said.

She last was seen driving southbound on Pioneer Parkway West. (more)