Man reeking of alcohol slams through Deemers

By Hayli Fellwock, hfellwock@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3240

Monday, June 14, 2004

Deemers Flowers and Greenhouses was damaged Sunday when a possibly drunk driver plowed through the wall of the Fairview Avenue business around 2:30 a.m. Witnesses saw 30-year-old John Foster Tripp Follis III of 1613 Singletree Lane in Bowling Green run his Ford F-250 truck into the wall, according to a Bowling Green Police Department report. Follis told police his trucks accelerator pedal stuck, causing the accident. According to the police report, however, Follis reeked of alcoholic beverages and he had trouble standing on his own.The gaping hole left by Follis truck was in the wall of a storage room to the side of the main shopping area, which is fronted by solid glass. As of this morning, Deemers was operating business as usual. Deemers owner Ellen Buchanon said her husband, Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon, was the first on the scene after the couple received the late-night call from police.Dispatch said, A car ran into the front of your shop, and I had visions of all this glass inside the shop, Ellen Buchanon said. When I found it was further down, I was relieved.She added that none of the merchandise inside the storage room was damaged, and repair estimates have yet to be determined. Its going to take some work, she said. There will be some masonry involved because of the concrete pillars.Andy Garner, a Deemers delivery man, expressed disbelief after inspecting the damage this morning. I didnt know what had happened, he said. I couldnt believe it. It looked pretty bad.Follis told police he was not injured. He failed three sobriety tests and blood test results are pending. Follis was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, his second such charge in five years. He was released around noon on Sunday on $738.85 cash bond.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700