An office building on Western Avenue in Augusta is seen Tuesday night after a car struck it and caught fire. The driver was arrested on charges of operating under the influence and driving to endanger. Courtesy of Augusta Fire Department
AUGUSTA — Police say a woman was arrested after a car crashed into an office building on Western Avenue and caught fire Tuesday night.
The driver of the vehicle, Bethany Lund, 25, of Hallowell, was charged with operating under the influence and driving to endanger.
Augusta police and firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle off the roadway at 526 Western Ave. shortly after 11 p.m.
Augusta Fire Deputy Chief Steven Leach said the initial report was that a vehicle had struck the building and it was on fire.
“We sent everyone, not knowing what was on fire,” Leach said.
When they arrived, they found the three occupants outside the vehicle and that the fire was limited to the vehicle. Most of the responding units were dismissed, leaving a crew to extinguish the vehicle fire.
Leach said one person was taken to the hospital.
Augusta Police Staff Sgt. Eric Lloyd said the vehicle struck the building occupied by C & C Realty Management, causing significant damage to the building and causing the vehicle to catch fire.
Damage to an office building on Western Avenue in Augusta is seen Tuesday night after a car struck it and caught fire. The driver was arrested on charges of operating under the influence and driving to endanger. Courtesy of Augusta Fire Department
Attempts to reach C & C Realty Management were not immediately successful Wednesday.
Rob Overton, director of Code Enforcement for the city of Augusta, said the building sustained some heavy damage.
“We had no concerns about the immediate structural integrity of the building, and we did not limit the occupancy of the building,” Overton said Wednesday. “We didn’t prevent anyone from going to work there today.”
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