Driver slams car into former Celina coffee shop

ajc.com

Credit: Celina

Credit: Celina

Celina Police and Fire departments responded to an injury traffic crash in the 500 block of E. Market Street Monday.

Officers said a vehicle driven by Joseph A. Ritchie, 20, of 804 Wilkens Street, Celina, was westbound on E. Market Street when the driver lost control and veered off the right side of the road at approximaetly 10:27 p.m.  The vehicle struck a no parking sign and brushed a pole holding a private business sign at the NE corner of Market and Pike Streets.

According to police, the driver continued west across Pike Street, where he struck a stop sign and decorative brick wall before cross the parking lot at The Crowning Touch, and striking the east side of the building.  The vehicle crashed through the exterior wall and display window, entering the building approximately 12-15 feet before coming to rest.  It had traveled approximately 181 feet after leaving the roadway, before it struck the building.

The driver was already out of the vehicle when medics arrived on the scene.  The driver suffered minor injuries and refused treatment from the Mercer County Emergency Squad that responded to the scene with other fire department personnel.   He told responding medics that he had been huffing and was taken into custody for OVI.

A partial can of Ultra Duster, an air product commonly abused as in inhalant, was found in the vehicle, police said.

The suspect was taken into custody and taken to the police department, where he posted bond after being processed for the traffic arrest.  He faces charges of failure to control, OVI and failing to wear a seat belt, police said.

Both the vehicle and the building received moderate damage.

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