In what was the latest in a series of incidents involving vehicles crashing into buildings in the Port Huron area, a two-vehicle collision caused minor damage to a Denny’s restaurant in Fort Gratiot on Monday morning. This incident follows a concerning trend that has seen a number of other local businesses and landmarks also suffer similar incidents in the past several years.
According to reports, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s deputies and the Fort Gratiot Fire Department were called to the scene at 24th Avenue and Krafft Road at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Monday. At the time of the accident, one of the vehicles veered off the road and collided with the Denny’s located at 4010 24th Avenue.
Both vehicles involved in the accident were reportedly driven by St. Clair County women, though the ages of the drivers have yet to be disclosed. The woman whose vehicle did not hit the restaurant sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by Tri-Hospital EMS. Fortunately, no employees or customers were present inside the restaurant at the time of the collision.
However, this was not an isolated incident, as there have been multiple other instances in the Port Huron area where vehicles have crashed into local businesses and landmarks. McCormick’s Restaurant, CVS at 10th and Lapeer, Mama Vicki’s in Fort Gratiot, Griswold Street Baptist Church, Lake Huron Medical Center, Fort Gratiot Verizon, Port Huron High School, Palms Krystal Bar, Gillroy’s Hardware, the old Riviera Theater, Theo’s Restaurant, a home on 16th and Oak, and the Michigan Welcome sign in Port Huron Township have all been hit by vehicles in recent years.
The repeated occurrences of such incidents have led some residents to speculate whether this trend constitutes a record for the most vehicle-building collisions in one area. Nonetheless, authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution while driving and maintain awareness of their surroundings to prevent such incidents from occurring.
