Driver Blames Kum & Go Crash On His Crocs

APRIL 11--A Missouri man who fled the scene after crashing his truck into a Kum & Go’s front windows claimed his Crocs “got caught in the pedal,” causing him to accelerate into the business.

Cops say security footage recorded Dale Hamit, 60, slamming his 2012 Dodge Ram into the convenience store on a Thursday evening in late-February. “Hamit immediately backed up and left the scene without providing any information,” according to a police report.

The crash resulted in damages of $3720 to the Springfield Kum & Go (seen above), which is about half a mile from Hamit’s residence.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Hamit twice returned to the store--driving the same truck--and entered the business, where he spoke with an employee and “never claimed to be the driver.”

Hamit “even looked at the security video of the original incident” with the worker, investigators say.

When a cop arrived on scene, Hamit “denied being the driver and his truck being the one involved.” However, security video linked Hamit and his vehicle to the crash.

When later questioned at his home, Hamit reportedly confessed and “stated he was driving in his Crocs and they got caught in the pedal, causing him to accelerate into the building.” Hamit added that he had “freaked out” and fled the Kum & Go.

According to an April 10 criminal summons, Hamit has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident where property damage exceeded $1000, a felony. He is scheduled for a May 14 Circuit Court hearing.

If convicted of the class E felony, Hamit faces between one and four years in custody, as well as a maximum fine of $10,000.

Court records do not include a further description of Hamit’s footwear, or whether the Crocs in question were outfitted with any of those horrendous charms. (2 pages)