Truck crashes into empty Bremerton church

By KOMO Staff

Summary

The driver apparently had a seizure and lost control of his pickup truck, which crashed into the Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.

Story Published: Jan 28, 2009 at 1:59 PM PST

Story Updated: Jan 28, 2009 at 11:24 PM PST

Truck crashes into empty Bremerton church

Photo courtesy: The Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON, Wash. -- A man apparently suffering from a seizure crashed his truck into an empty church Wednesday morning.

Bremerton police officials say it was around 9 a.m. when the call came about the crash. A police sergeant was first on the scene and found a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was 20 feet deep into the Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, on Veneta Avenue.

The tires were still spinning, filling up the church with burnt rubber smoke.

The sergeant shut off the engine and pulled the driver from the truck. Medics say it appears the driver had a seizure. The man reportedly regained consciousness and was taken to Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton. On Wednesday night, he was said to be OK.

The crash took out eight rows of pews, as well as a 10-year-old organ that was custom-made for the church. The instrument was valued at $100,000, but for churchgoers contained greater sentimental value.

Carrie Franklin has been playing the organ five times a week for the last ten years. When she tries to talk about the organ, which now sits in a muzzled mess, tears well in her eyes.

Church members are saddened, but they're trying to see the lighter side of the tragedy.

"Several folks have joked with me, since my last sermon was about fishing for people and attracting people. What a way to attract people through this incident!" said pastor Paul Meeker.

But most of all, church members were glad to hear the driver was OK.

The century-old church building suffered $400,000 damage. But with insurance, church members said it will survive.

 



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