New video: SUV crashes into store

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Action News has obtained the surveillance video of an SUV slamming into the storefront at Ashle Gryre.

According to the owner of the Atlantic Beach boutique, police said the SUV was probably going between 40 and 50 mph at the time.

Jill Storey was at Ragtime early Sunday morning when she heard the commotion.

"All of the sudden we heard a bang, pop sound. Didn't know what it was. Looked at the other guy and he said, 'was that a gunshot?'" Storey said.

She walked outside and saw the SUV in the storefront.

"It was smoking at that point. We understand from onlookers that it was on fire," she said.

Those onlookers were right. Video from another witness showed the flames. 

Police say 42-year-old Lareese Fields was behind the wheel. According to the arrest report, Fields sideswiped a car in Jacksonville Beach before speeding north on 3rd Street and crashing into the store.

Storey said she spoke to another driver who had to get out of the SUV's way.

"He kept going faster and faster, to the point where he was going 70 mph on 3rd," she said.

Police say Fields was drunk and actually tried to blend in with the crowd after the crash. It didn't work. He was arrested.

Storey is just thankful no one was hurt.

"There's lot of people mingling around and the thought of somebody perhaps walking along heading to their car or to another place, and that car barreling through that intersection -- you wouldn't even see it coming," she said.

Fields was booked into the Duval County Jail on several charges, including DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.

The store is closed until further notice. The owner estimates the damage at well over $10,000, and that's not including the damage to his inventory.

RAW VIDEO: Car crashes into Atlantic Beach boutique 

RAW VIDEO: Boutique burns in Atlantic Beach

WJAX