Idaho Falls Owner Remains Positive After Teens Crash Into Business

IDAHO FALLS -- An Idaho Falls business owner remains positive after two joy-riding teens smashed into his building.

Although the impact was devastating, the owner of Sunrise Auto Sales, John Empey is wishing the two 16-year-olds well.

“Sometimes we are lucky to live beyond 16. I hope these boys wise up, because they’ve got a lot of life in front of them,” John Empey said.

The two teens were having bit too much fun when they came skidding across Empey’s Truck and Auto, and crash landed in to Sunrise Auto Sales office bathroom.

Before turning sharply into Empey’s Truck and Auto Repair, they hit a pick-up truck hauling an ATV.

John’s brother Bruce Empey, Owner of Empey's Truck and Auto next door, caught part of the joy ride on camera. He say’s the incident has made more than a physical impact on the business.

“That really shuts your business down when something goes through there and causes big trouble,” Bruce Empey said, "It shuts your business down, and gets expensive in a hurry.”

The owners insurance will be covering the damage, with an anticipated cost of $10,000 - $20,000.

John Empey says that he feels bad for the parent of the teen who was driving. He was informed that they had recently inherited the car from a deceased family member, and it was the only car they had.

Sunrise Auto is currently doing business regardless of damage, and in several week it should be back to normal.

The suspects were booked into the 3B juvenile detention center in Bonneville county. They have been charged with unauthorized use or control of a vehicle, obstruction, and leaving the scene of an accident.