Vehicle destroys library, business signs
Damage has been estimated at about $75,000 after a vehicle went off the road and crashed into several signs in downtown Centerville.
The accident took place just after 10:30 p.m. March 12. A Centerville man apparently had a medical episode while driving east along U.S. 40 and crossed the center line, approaching several buildings on the north side of the road.
Police Chief Ed Buchholz said security video shows that the driver first crashed into a picnic table outside the Centerville Christian Church’s Family Life Center, then destroyed a digital sign outside Delay Insurance Services and Associates. He then came close to the front of Centerville — Center Township Public Library.
The vehicle broke apart the library’s large limestone sign and its brick pillars, moving the heavy sign a great distance. It also damaged the grass and bent a tall metal wayfinding sign placed by Main Street Centerville to promote community events.
Buchholz said it was fortunate that no one was seriously injured. The driver was the vehicle’s sole occupant, and because it was late on Sunday evening, no other vehicles happened to be in his path on what is typically a heavily traveled road.
A version of this article appeared in the March 22 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.