The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety have found that each year there are more than a hundred incidents of vehicles crashing into buildings every day. Over 15,000 people are injured yearly, with more than 2,500 people losing their lives in such incidents.
My News LA reports that such an incident happened in Downing over the weekend when a man drove his vehicle into a building.
A spokesperson for the Downey Fire Department told reporters that the crash happened at approximately 12:15 a.m. at 11221 Old School River Road on Sunday, February 19.
Officers with the Downey Police Department responded to the crash scene to find the SUV all the way inside the building and lying on its side. Thankfully, no one in the building was hurt in the incident, and the driver was also unhurt.
Police officers responding to the crash had the driver perform field sobriety tests and later took him into custody. His identity was not released at the time of the report.
Investigators say that given the extent of the damage to the building, speed, as well as alcohol, likely contributed to the crash. City officials will inspect the building to determine if it is safe and structurally sound.
This is a developing story.
