Crash shatters bank front

By Maria Lockwood

mlockwood@superiortelegram.com

A car crashed through the front entryway of Superior Savings Bank Tuesday morning, stalling bank operations until the area was shored up by Superior firefighters. No injuries were reported.

The accident occurred when an car eastbound on North 12th Street crossed Tower Avenue in the path of a van that was headed north, according to Superior Police Sgt. Mark McGillis. The van struck the car, spinning it so it was aimed at the corner of the bank, than glanced off a westbound truck parked at the stop sign.

Although the car rammed into the building with enough force to shatter glass and bend metal, there were no injuries.

Bank employees were evacuated from the building. As they waited outside, they spoke of hearing a loud boom that shook the building and looking up to see falling glass.

“It’s not nearly as bad as it looks,” said Battalion Chief Scott Gordon of the Superior Fire Department. The car struck the entryway area, a façade with no load-bearing beams or walls. The engine from the East End fire hall was called in to provide paratech struts used to stabilize the corner that was struck. Then, the car was towed away and clean-up began.

Both the other vehicles involved were driven away from the scene of the accident by their drivers, McGillis said.

Shortly after noon, a trip past the bank showed it was open for business again – through the back door – and employees of Superior Glass Inc. were sweeping up what remained of the front entryway.

John Conway of Superior Glass said the front door will be usable by Wednesday, but the entire entryway will not be completed for a few weeks.

McGillis said he expected the driver of the car would receive a ticket for failing to yield the right of way.

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