NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A Pasco County business is rebuilding after a driver plowed into it and the exact moment was caught on surveillance video.
The owner is an artist and known as a free spirit; he's not one to ask for help. But, the community is rallying around him.
On Friday night, mural painter Adonis Hunter was in his studio along US-19 just outside New Port Richey when an old Buick Skylark veered off the road and clipped the building, taking out a storage room and knocking down a power pole.
“I just heard a loud, loud, outrageously loud noise,” Hunter said.
The dazed driver got out and sat on a bench, telling witnesses his brakes failed. An FHP crash report doesn’t list a cause for the crash. Court records don’t show the driver was cited for any traffic infraction.
Hunter is known throughout the county for the playful, sometimes provocative murals he paints in his studio. But, he also paints murals for local businesses.
Derek Clasen owns Pristine Art Barbershop in New Port Richey. He says Hunter’s art has developed a large and loyal following.
“It's creative,” Clasen said. “It's inspirational for some. Some of it caused controversy depending on what's up there. And he's never been somebody to ask for help.”
But Hunter is out thousands after removing the debris, cleaning up the property and building new exterior walls.
He's talked to insurance companies for the driver and building owner but doesn't know if a claim would reimburse him for repairs.
Instead of asking for donations, he’s selling black and white squares for $100 for local businesses to advertise on his façade facing US-19.
“I had to jump on it all day, not just to help him out,” Clasen said, adding that the exposure is good for his business. “I mean, I would pay him if it was $200, $200; if it was $300, $300.”
Not even a week later, you can't tell if a crash even happened. And with the one outbuilding gone, Hunter says the new exterior wall is simply a blank canvas.
“It's kind of a bigger spot now, so I’m excited about it," Hunter said.