A Greensburg man was charged with drunken driving and other offenses on Monday, about 12 hours after his speeding pickup crashed into an elevator shaft in the Westmoreland County Courthouse Annex, causing at least $85,000 in damage.
Greensburg police Capt. George Seranko said the driver, Lucas James Warner of 309 Brown Ave., will be mailed notice of the criminal charges, which include causing an accident that involved damage to an unattended building, disorderly conduct and traffic offenses.
County officials said yesterday that engineers found no structural damage to the building, but the elevator, which services private and public offices on the top two floors of the five-story building, will be out of commission indefinitely.
Public Works Director Greg McCloskey said it will cost at least $85,000 to replace the elevator car and a window. Inspectors have not determined whether the elevator's lift mechanism was damaged, which could cost about $100,000 to replace.
"It's out of order for at least two weeks and possibly much longer," McCloskey said.
The damaged elevator services offices rented by lawyers, the county's planning department and the Westmoreland Economic Growth Connection. Those workers will have to use elevators on the other side of the building that service county offices and require going through a security check, McCloskey said.
Police and county workers said the pickup veered off West Otterman Street about 10:20 p.m., hit a handicapped ramp on the curb, jumped over a raised concrete planter and crashed into the outer wall of the elevator shaft. The truck went through a window and entered the elevator from the rear as it was parked on the first floor.
Jeff Fait, manager of fire and safety operations for the county, said the planter, part of a security network to guard the courthouse buildings from runaway vehicles, will be reinforced with steel bars.
"For now, we'll focus on that planter," Fait said.
Police tracked down Warner, who ran from the scene, minutes after the crash. Three people who were inside the Rialto Cafe across the street chased him for several blocks and held him for police, Seranko said.
Warner was treated at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg on Sunday night and released.
Warner worked for C&Z Roofing and had a placard for the company on his truck.
Mark Walton, who identified himself as the Greensburg office manager for the company, said yesterday afternoon that Warner had been fired.
"He was fired when he decided to get drunk and crash into that building," Walton said.
Copyright 2011 Tribune Review Publishing CompanyAll Rights Reserved
