Crime & Safety

Driver was Going 50 When He Hit City Building

New details released in crash through wall of Council Chambers

A 79-year-old driver was going an estimated 50 mph when he slammed into City Council Chambers Wednesday evening, according to a police report.

The report identifies the driver as Daniel Grossman of Springfield Circle.

Police have cited Grossman for failing to maintain reasonable control in the collision, which ended with his Buick sitting inside the room that serves as Council Chambers and Mayor's Court.

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The newly released report does not offer a specific reason for why Grossman, who had just pulled out of the and headed south on Westwood Drive, was unable to negotiate the curve in the road, instead barreling over the curve and into the building.

It says Grossman told officers he "was unable to control his vehicle because the vehicle kept accelerating."

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He was taken to Southwest General Health Center, but reportedly suffered only minor injuries.

The room, used for meetings by council, the Planning Commission and other boards, as well as for Mayor's Court, was not occupied at the time. The building is attached to the , located at the .

Had a meeting been going on, injuries would have been likely, officials said. The car crashed through a doorway and slammed into a dais where city administrators sit during meetings, then into the back rows of seats in the audience.

Bricks and debris flew all the way across the room, Lt Mark Fender said.

The dais will have to be rebuilt and the carpet, with a large oil stain and rips from the flying bricks, will probably have to be replaced, authorities said.

Fender said the car crashed into a doorway, which offered less resistance than the brick wall of the building.

The building was renovated in 2010 as part of an expansion of the police station. 

It is often referred to as City Hall, but doesn't actually contain Strongsville's administrative offices, which are on Foltz Parkway.


 


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