Business struck by suspended driver

Thursday, March 31, 2016
A westbound vehicle sits on the Franklin Street sidewalk Thursday. Police on the scene removed the still-driveable vehicle while firefighters cleaned up broken glass from the area. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

A vehicle westbound on Franklin Street left the roadway and hit a building Thursday in a crash suspected to have been caused by medical issues.

Although the incident is currently under investigation, Greencastle Police Department Capt. Charles Inman said the driver was operating the vehicle with a suspended license.

"We got a call at about 6:45 (p.m.) of a vehicle into a building," Inman said. "There was concern based upon witnesses describing the driver as impaired and that maybe it was a drunk-driving situation.

"Fortunately, it doesn't appear that he was drinking and driving -- unfortunately, though, it looks like a medical issue," Inman continued. "It looks like he's got some pretty serious medical problems and we believe that's what led to the accident."

To be occupied by a title company based out of Brazil, the face of the building is currently undergoing construction. The business is located adjacent to Jerry's Foreign Auto with owner Jerry Hecko offering assistance.

The driver was transported to Putnam County Hospital shortly after 7 p.m. with Inman citing further investigation.

"One thing we have been able to determine from this is that he had a suspended license," Inman added. "So he shouldn't have been driving to begin with."

Departments on scene included Greencastle Police, Greencastle Fire and Putnam County Operation Life with approximately a dozen firefighters present.

Though a strong odor of burning chemicals could be detected for quite some time, the vehicle was deemed "driveable" with only glass and rubber cleanup taking place once police had removed the vehicle from the facade.

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