Car crashes into Hodgkins Village Hall

By Carol McGowan

The Hodgkins Village Hall remains open for business and early voting after a vehicle crashed through the back end of the building last week.

Just before 4 p.m. on October 26, a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis was parked in a handicap space in the rear parking lot.

The driver, a woman in her 60s attempted to back out of the space, but ended up crashing through the village hall’s garage door.

The car came to a stop after crashing through the inner wall of the garage, with the rear of the vehicle coming to rest in an interior hallway.

Those working in the village hall office quickly went out to see what had happened. They found the driver uninjured and helped her out of the wreckage.

Paramedics examined the driver, but she refused to go to the hospital.

She was cited for improper backing and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

No one was walking or driving through the parking lot at the time.

The Hodgkins Police Department said the crash caused significant damage to the building, but it’s been determined to be structurally sound and remains open.

Police Chief Joseph Klotz said the damage was confined to an area that doesn’t affect the lobby, or access to the basement where early voting is taking place.