A Tuscola County driver’s accident may result in demolition to a historic building after a crash into the Ellington Township Hall took out part of the foundation.
Michigan State Police report that just before 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 26, troopers were dispatched to a one vehicle scene on M-81 near Dutcher Road. Investigation found that the driver, a 35-year-old Caro woman, was heading northeast alone in her car when she lost control and went across the roadway, striking a sign and continuing through the ditch before ultimately stopping once she crashed into the building.
Both the building and the vehicle, a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country, had extensive damage. With the road and weather conditions snowy at the time, the uninjured driver was cited for a speed violation, having been traveling too fast for the conditions.
In an email to the Tuscola Advertiser, Ellington Township Supervisor Russell Speirs revealed that the damage was not just a smashed wall, and included the foundation of the impact site being demolished by the hit, with several floor joists being pushed back by the impact.
Speirs also told the newspaper that the township’s board will conduct the remaining 2023 meetings in the hall’s rear addition, with the plan to cordon off the damaged section in the meantime as the board decides whether to rebuild or demolish and start anew.
Caro Fire assisted at Sunday’s scene.
