Billings businesses return to normal after car accident

BILLINGS – Two Billings businesses are picking up the pieces from their property after a vehicle veered off Interstate 90 and struck several cars at Veewee’s, a Volkswagen restoration shop, Sunday evening. One of those cars then crashed into Eagle Tattoo, but despite the chaos, everything is business as usual at both shops.

In the 11 years Andy and Jolene Glover have owned their Volkswagen repair shop on Belknap Avenue, they have never experienced what happened Sunday night.

“Heartbreak, heartbreak,” Jolene said.

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According to the Montana Highway Patrol, a driver was traveling eastbound from 27th Street onto I-90 around 6:45 p.m. Sunday evening. The vehicle careened off the highway at approximately 70 miles per hour and through a fence directly off the road.

“It looks like four of us, customers and a friend of ours, parked their car down here,” Andy said.

All three occupants, including a male passenger and a 15-month-old baby, were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Highway Patrol troopers said they were waiting for a toxicology report to determine whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

Alina Hauter/MTN News

“Wrapping the car in the chain link saved them,” Andy added.

The couple are grateful no one died, but said it was difficult news to break to affected customers.

“Devastated but understanding… this will be a setback with, well, irreplaceable vehicles,” Andy said.

It created a domino effect for the business next door, Eagle Tattoo. One of the cars that was hit ended up crashing through the windshield.

Alina Hauter/MTN News

“When you get here, there’s carnage everywhere,” said Eagle Tattoo employee Josh Degele. “It’s ugly. It affects everyone else, I mean, like I said, luckily I’m not as affected as everyone else, but it’s still terrible.”

Both places said it will be business as usual as they emerge from the chaos.

“Dealing with customers now and getting on with whatever else lies ahead. That’s endurance,” Andy.