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New driver mistake crashes store, injures one

By Brian Hagen

04/16/2025

(KAIR)--A teenager, being taught to drive by a family member, accidentally accelerated, crashing into an Effingham retail store while injuring the woman teaching him.

That's according to a release from Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie who says his deputies were called to Effingham's Dollar General store, located at 819 John Street, around 4:00 Tuesday afternoon.

It was at that location that 61-year-old Effingham resident Debbie Wilbourn suffered injuries after being briefly pinned between the vehicle and the store building after the 15-year-old driver, believing the GMC Yukon was in reverse, accelerated when it wouldn't reverse, causing the SUV to jump the curb and strike Wilbourn, who was pushed into the building. The SUV then continued into the building, causing Wilbourn to be pinned. Wilbourn, Laurie says, had exited the vehicle to assist the driver, just prior to the accident, with learning to park straight in the parking lot.

Suffering what Laurie identifies as a "possible hip and other unknown injuries," Wilbourn was transported by LifeStar helicopter for medical treatment.

The teen boy behind the wheel was not hurt.

Atchison County Rescue and EMS assisted at the scene of the accident.

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