North Wright County Today has learned more information about last night’s crash at inFIT in Albertville. The incident occurred when Sabrina Patino, age 37 of St. Michael, was parking her vehicle. According to the report, Patino reported that the engine of her Audi sedan revved up for an unexplained reason while she was pulling in to the parking space. She reportedly put the vehicle in reverse to prevent the vehicle from going farther into the building, which caused a secondary accident by crashing into a nearby vehicle.
Wright County Operations Lieutenant, Albert Lutgens, said Patino was not injured in the crash and that no citations were issued.
Photos courtesy of Ashley Darkenwald and inFIT social media page
inFIT owner Ashley Darkenwald said the incident was a close call for those who were preparing to enter the fitness studio for a class set to begin five minutes later. The class’s instructor, Amy Peterson, was in the studio preparing for the class, but she wasn’t in the vicinity of the crash. Darkenwald said class participants would have been spread throughout the studio just minutes later and could have been injured by either the vehicle or the fitness equipment that was stored on that wall, which came crashing down.
“I am so bummed the studio got so damaged after all the work we just put in,” she said, “but, most importantly, no one was injured.”
Darkenwald said the Wright County Sheriff’s Department and Albertville Fire Department deserves credit for their excellent response to the incident.
“They were quick to respond, compassionate, and thorough,” she said.
Infit moved into the former Millennium Dance Studio just last month at 5633 LaCentre Ave., near Coborn’s Grocery, and the business held an open house to celebrate their new location only three days ago. Now the front of the business, which houses one of their two fitness studios, has sustained extensive damage to the exterior and into the studio.
Darkenwald said they plan to hold classes through construction by utilizing the undamaged studio, and she said they will work to get inFIT repaired as quickly as possible. She urged members to check the fitness schedule for any possible changes.
Owner Ashley Darkenwald said they plan to hold classes through construction by utilizing the undamaged studio, and she said they will work to get Infit repaired as quickly as possible. She urged members to check the fitness schedule for any possible changes.
“We are very glad everyone is safe,” Darkenwald said.
North Wright County Today has not yet received details on how the crash occurred, and will provide updates when available.