(MOBILE, Ala.) - A tornado ripping through parts of Mobile Thursday morning damaged dozens of luxury cars at a dealership on Dauphin Street.
Mercedes-Benz of Mobile managers said around 50 of their vehicles were damaged, and some were totalled. Nearly every storm window of the dealership was blown out from the powerful straight-line winds.
General Sales Manager Jim Sullivan said none of their staff were injured because the EF-1 tornado hit the dealership before business hours.
It's a terrible time of year, it's a terrible time any time, to have this, but we're going to make it through it," Sullivan said, "We're blessed because all of our employees were not here so everybody was safe."
Sullivan said the tornado caused destruction all over the dealership.
"We have windows blown out of cars," Sullivan said, "Obviously our Mercedes sign has been uprooted from the ground. The bolts were stripped."
The massive sign in the dealership parking lot fell on top of a luxury SUV, and a sedan was fli9pped over by the tornado's force. Sullivan said most of the light poles in the front parking lot were knocked over too.
Sullivan said a dollar amount of damage could not be determined. The manager said vehicles that sustained minor damage will be sold at a discounted price.
"Mercedes-Benz is a great company, and they're going to help us get through this," Sullivan said.
