St. John's Breadline in Springfield was forced to close its doors and cancel its lunch service Oct. 9, after a car smashed into the entrance to its building at 430 N. Fifth Street at 9:20 a.m.

A 92-year-old woman was pulling into a parking space in front of the Breadline's main entrance, on the east side of the building, when she accidentally hit the gas rather than the brake pedal.

The woman was not injured in the accident, nor were Breadline employees and volunteers working in the building. The impact of the vehicle forced the door and part of the surrounding wall off the building's foundation, making the entrance door inoperable.

Police were called, but did not issue a citation. City building inspectors evaluated the damage, and ruled with only one exit from the dining room, only 49 people could be the dining room at the same time.

Lunch was cancelled at the Breadline that day, but by 2:45 p.m., signs were posted directing patrons to use the door on the north side of the building and dinner was served.

"Initially we will be serving about 50 percent of what we normally do," said Kevin Kindred, Breadline supervisor.

"We had contractors out to look at the site immediately, in order to have repairs begin as soon as possible," said Greg Fleck, associate director of buildings and properties in the diocesan Office for Finance.