Around noon on Tuesday, December 15th, an elderly couple driving a Ford Taurus lost control of their vehicle near the drive through window at the National Penn Bank headquarters. The vehicle hit the side of the bank, damaging an air conditioning unit, then crossed West Philadelphia Avenue (Rt. 73), and jumped the sidewalk before smashing into the side of the Boyertown Inn. We’re told owner Maefern Houck was just feet from the window where the vehicle came crashing in at the time of the accident. A large portion of the wall and a window were pushed inside of the building.
Crews were called to the scene to assess the situation and soon after, all occupants of the Boyertown Inn were evacuated. A collapse rescue unit was called in to create a plan to stabilize the structure. Damage was reported in the first, second, and third floor. Electricity and water service was shut down as a precaution.
Occupants of the Inn have either found a place to stay or are staying at St. John’s Church on Reading Avenue. The Red Cross is at the church to assist in reaching their needs.
An oversized load is being held up because of the road closure. It was initially blocking the East-bound lane of Rt. 73, but has since been moved to a wider portion of the road.
This is after local organization Thunder Outreach along with many volunteers and local businesses put hundreds of hours of work into restoring the exterior of the building over the last two years. Thunder Outreach’s Mark Malizzi remained positive today and saw the damage as an opportunity to start fresh on the inside of that part of the building.