Ringwood garage fears future after man crashed into building

A.M Autos in Ringwood Trading Estate has been closed for over two weeks after a man had reportedly mistaken his throttle for a brake pedal.

Garage owner, Alan Milford, has been forced to fence the property off and close the family business since the crash on Tuesday, February 20.

The 62-year-old owner said the Chrysler Voyager people carrier took out the main pillar and ran over both the electric board and meter, which carries 450 volts.

“It was the best place to destroy it,” said Alan.

“If he’d have gone over a little and hit the window, it would have been easy.”

Due to the structural damage the car remains stuck in the wall until Alan gets the go ahead from his insurance company.

He has been warned that he may not be able to reopen for three to four months, which Alan said means it will struggle to survive.

A.M Autos was established in 1990 and Alan has put his life’s work into the centre after his first wife’s passing.

“When my first wife died aged 39, I was just taking that unit over in 2002, and I threw myself into the business.

“That's the best thing for you, rather than get down, and that sort of saved me.”

He added: “It’s taken me all these years to build this business and it’s being destroyed in no time.”

Alan has three other employees that he still paying whilst he is losing more customers each day.

“We're a busy business and I just hope that we'll come back when I can get it, but like I said, it is just no fault of our own.”

Hampshire Police previously confirmed that the one-vehicle collision on Christchurch Road, Ringwood, took place at 10.20pm on February 20. 

No injuries were reported.