It is not very often that vehicles run into buildings, but within the last two weeks, it has happened twice in Cook County—at local post offices.
On Monday, February 23, a 73-year-old Grand Marais man ran into the Hovland Post Office. Hovland Postal Worker Jim Miller said he was just getting ready to leave for the day at 3:47 p.m. when he saw a truck pulling into the parking lot. He said it appeared to be approaching the building at normal speed. Miller turned away for a moment and he said he heard a “bam!” and said the building shook.
The driver was not harmed and he entered the lobby to make sure everyone inside was okay. A Cook County Sheriff Deputy responded and insurance information was exchanged, as there was significant damage to the wall next to the front door. Miller said the wall was pushed about six inches off its footings and the door was broken off of its frame. Miller and some Hovland community members were able to make temporary repairs and the U.S. Postal Service is scheduling repair work, to be paid for by the driver’s insurance company.
The man told the sheriff deputy that the large winter boots he was wearing must have slipped or he misjudged placement of his foot in the big boots and hit the gas.
A car hit the Grand Marais Post Office on Friday, March 6. At about 12:08 p.m., an 83-year-old man from Grand Marais pulled into a parking space in front of the post office and then accelerated quickly, hitting the building. The driver quickly reversed and sped backwards through the lot, ending up on the snowmobile trail in front of the post office.
Although there was minimal damage to the vehicle, a 2004 Ford Explorer, there was a loud crash inside of the building. Postmaster Frank Lehto said everyone inside heard a loud crash and the whole building shook. Lehto said the post office has had semi trucks back into the cover on the loading ramp in the past and that is what it sounded like. He hurried outside to see that a passenger vehicle had caused the noise.
Cook County Law Enforcement responded and the driver told deputies that the accelerator was stuck. According to Law Enforcement, evidence suggests driver error, not mechanical malfunction.
No citations were issued in either incident.
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