SUV Drives Into Apex Habitat ReStore, Shattering Entrance Windows; Driver Evaluated

A vehicle crashed into the front of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on East Williams Street in Apex Friday morning, shattering the double-door entrance and the windows above the doors and leaving an SUV lodged at the storefront, city photos show. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, and an inspector was called to ensure there was no structural damage before reopening.

The Apex collision is one of two recent incidents involving Habitat ReStores in the region; a separate, more destructive crash occurred in Camden, South Carolina, on Dec. 24. That Christmas Eve collision sent a white SUV through a glass wall on the Robert Street side of the Camden ReStore and carried the vehicle deep inside the building after striking a green hatchback, photographs and accounts show. Camden employees and customers were evacuated, police, fire and EMS responded, and the Camden Police Department is investigating.

Julie Trott, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Kershaw County, described the Camden scene in stark terms: “When I came in, I saw a car at the bottom of the steps and broken glass and display cases everywhere.” She added, “It looked like a bomb had gone off.” Trott said the vehicle “cleared a huge path through the store, destroying china, knickknacks and other items people had donated for us to sell,” and that staff “filled [the dumpster] with damaged items and spent hours shoveling glass just to make the building safe.” Trott also reported that “one of our employees suffered some cuts from flying glass” and said, “I don’t know how we’re going to come back from this. This is just horrible.”

Authorities and witnesses provided different accounts of how the Camden crash started. The driver reportedly told police their accelerator got stuck and they lost control. Camden police said a driver traveling north on U.S. 1 swerved to avoid another vehicle, lost control and crashed into the ReStore. Local photographs and on-scene reporting indicate the SUV crossed a grassy area after leaving the roadway and struck at least one support pillar inside the building. Damage to the Camden store and its inventory has been estimated at “tens of thousands of dollars,” and the store remained closed while crews assessed structural impacts; the nonprofit said the closure reduced its ability to fund housing work and hoped to reopen on Jan. 13.

For Wake County residents, the Apex incident is a reminder of pedestrian and storefront safety where busy streets meet retail operations. For both ReStores, the immediate losses are concrete: broken glass, damaged donated goods and costs for inspection and repair. Local Habitat ReStores rely on resale revenue from donated furniture and household items to fund homebuilding and repair; lost inventory and building downtime can translate into delayed projects or reduced program capacity.

Officials are continuing investigations and structural reviews. Residents who donated items to either ReStore or who rely on Habitat services should monitor official channels for reopenings and for guidance on where to drop donations while repairs continue.