SUV stays in church garage until walls shored up; Pastor says ‘we’ll have service’

(UPDATE @ 8:37 p.m.): The SUV will remain lodged in the smashed wall of a church garage until its walls can be shored up, the church pastor said.

Meantime, “we’re praying for the young lady,” said Pastor Gregory Pooler, leader of Abundant Life Missionary Baptist Church on West Third Street in Dayton.

The SUV driver has been taken to Miami Valley Hospital. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Dayton fire/rescue personnel said.

A city building inspector called to the accident made the decision to leave the SUV where it is because the damage left the garage structurally unsound. Dayton police will remain on scene, to keep away onlookers, until the building is made safe.

Pooler said the garage holds lawn equipment, tools and other items. There was no one in the sanctuary when the SUV hit the garage, which is attached to the sanctuary, he said.

His brother, who is a contractor, is bringing the materials needed to shore up the garage.

“Everything’s safe. We’ll have service Sunday morning,” Pooler said. “Anybody who wants to come out and join us, come on in and let’s worship the Lord together.”

INITIAL REPORT

The driver of an SUV has been taken to a hospital after it slammed into the side of a garage attached to Abundant Life Missionary Baptist Church on West Third Street in Dayton.

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Fire/rescue crews had to extricate the female driver, who was left trapped in the wreckage. She has been taken to Miami Valley Hospital. Her condition is not known.

Police and fire/rescue crews were dispatched to the church, in the 5000 block of West Third Street at Hollencamp Avenue, about 6:50 p.m. on a report of a vehicle into a structure.

They found the SUV about halfway through a wall of the garage.

Fire crews have determined the garage is considered to be structurally unsafe. They have called for a city building inspector to evaluate the damage.

We will update this developing report as we learn more. Stay with whio.com for breaking news.

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