SUV hits car, and car crashes into church on Chicago's West Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A church in the West Garfield Park neighborhood was picking up the pieces Thursday afternoon, after a hit-and-run accident the night before.
Police said a sport-utility vehicle ran a red light and slammed a second car into the side of the Sanctuary of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, 4157 W. Harrison St.
But as CBS 2's Sara Machi reported, the pastor said this isn't the first time the building's been hit.
A close look at the church building reveals the outline where the church made repairs after the last accident. New bricks were put in place.
But now, there is so much more damage to pick up – yet again.
Pastor Steve Stewart showed us the emblems he has collected from the cars that have hit his church – a Honda, a Toyota - and photos from previous crashes. He said cars have crashed into his church four times in the last three years.
All the crashes involved stolen vehicles, Pastor Stewart said.
He also has a collection of photographs the aftermath of past accidents.
"I have a collection that I don't want to have," said Stewart.
Bobby Swanigan, whose family owns the church, said crashes have caused damage to the building even more times than the four Stewart mentioned.
"Over time, period of years, this church's been hit over 10 times, basically in the same spot," he said.
In this latest incident at 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, a stolen Dodge Durango ran a stop sign and hit a Chevrolet Impala – causing the Impala to slam into the church building.
It happened just one hour after roughly two dozen congregations left from an evening Bible study.
"I couldn't believe it. I said to myself, not again. Not again," Stewart said. "This can't be happening again."
Stewart said the traffic configuration at Harrison Street and Keeler Avenue, adjacent to an Eisenhower Expressway overpass, is dangerous. Our cameras were rolling as three vehicles failed to stop Thursday.
Machi: "In an ideal world, what would you like to see happen to make it safer for you and your congregation?"
Stewart: "I would like to see a stoplight, and also speed bumps."
Pastor Stewart is frustrated, because he says he's asked the alderwoman's office to help with building out a curb or adding extra safety measures - but so far, there have been no changes.
Stewart took the step recently to put in his own reinforcements to protect the church building in the form of yellow concrete bollards - but the bollards were pushed into the building in the latest crash.
"I almost become a little numb to the fact that this happened, but I know that we're going to do the best we can to secure this building from incidents – all that we can do," said Pastor Stewart, "and we're just expecting, you know, the city to help us out in any way that they can."
We talked to the staff at the office of Ald. Monique Scott (24th). Scott's staff told us they have added a second stop sign and a bike lane to the intersection of Harrison Street and Keeler Avenue, adding that the State of Illinois cut back tree branches that block oncoming traffic.
But Scott's office added that they will request a new traffic study.
Police said the driver of the Dodge Durango ran away from the crash site. Two other people were injured, and police say they are expected to survive.
Pastor Stewart said the damage to the church from the various crashes have cost him about $70,000, of which $30,000 have come out of pocket.
He said he prays for the people who were injured in the latest incident, and hopes for something like this not to happen again.
