Emma Pritchard

A driver was lucky to avoid injury when the vehicle they were driving collided with the side wall of the Grafton Food Emporium in King Street last week.

Shortly before 10am on July 4, emergency services including NSW Ambulance paramedics, officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District, crews from Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station and South Grafton Fire and Rescue 307 Station, and NSW SES personnel, attended the scene following reports of a single vehicle accident.

The driver and sole occupant of the Mazda CX3, an 82-year-old woman, was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being cleared of injury.

A spokesperson for NSW Police did not reveal the cause of the incident.

No pedestrians, staff, or shoppers in the Grafton Food Emporium were involved in or sustained any injuries as a result of the incident, with retail outlets in the centre continuing to trade as the external scene was examined and later cleared of debris.

Grafton Fire and Rescue 306 Station Captain Garry Reardon said a “cast of thousands” attended to register assistance following the incident, adding the building was later inspected and cleared of significant structural damage.

Captain Reardon revealed it was a busy morning for his crew, with several team members responding to a call out following a diesel spill in Queen Street, Grafton, less than two hours after the incident at the Grafton Food Emporium.

Captain Reardon confirmed the diesel spill was minimal, with the scene quickly contained and reopened to traffic early in the afternoon.