This was the scene at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center early Saturday morning, Oct. 5, aft er a vehicle crashed through the stage doors on the north side of the building. No one was injured, but three vehicles parked in front of the arts center were also damaged. Photo contributed by Mark Thode
A vehicle crashed through the stage doors on the north side of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) early Saturday morning, Oct. 5 and caused damage to three vehicles parked in front of the arts center along the way.
According to the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, the damage was reported at 6:40 a.m. Saturday morning. Law enforcement determined that the incident was a hit and run and a follow up investigation revealed that Jeffrin Diaz-Lopez was driving a 2005 GMC Envoy at around 5 a.m. Saturday when the vehicle collided with one of the parked vehicles and then the building.
According to the sheriff’s office, the GMC struck a Ranger Rover from behind and pushed it into a Dodge Caravan that was then pushed into a Nissan Pathfinder. All three vehicles were parked and not occupied at the time of the crash and all three sustained moderate damage. According to the sheriff’s office, the GMC then drove through the doors of the arts center. Pictures taken by PPAC Managing Director Mark Thode showed damage to the stage doors that had recently been installed and the surrounding area, including an interior wall.
Law enforcement determined that Diaz-Lopez left the scene in the GMC and did not report the crash to any of the vehicle or property owners, according to the sheriff’s office. He was later cited for careless driving and driving without a valid license, both misdemeanors.
Thode said Monday, Oct. 7 that the Pipestone County Historical Society, which owns the Ferris Grand Block where the PPAC is located, was working with its insurance company in regards to the incident. He said the timeline for the repairs to the building would depend on insurance and the availability of Innovative Construction, the contractors hired for the stage door project. As of Monday, the contractors had secured the building as much as possible with sheets of plywood and some temporary studs.
Thode said the stage doors were a fire exit for the performance area, so he had reached out to Pipestone Fire Chief Mike Bloemendaal who would be reaching out to the fire marshal to make sure the PPAC could continue with upcoming events, including the Calumet Players’ production of “The Bad Seed,” which opens Friday, Oct. 11, with the temporary plywood covering the fire exit.