Man Crashes Pickup Into Office Building

GRAND SALINE—One man suffered minor injuries after crashing his pickup truck into an office building just before 1 a.m. last Saturday.

The driver, Juan Nadres Cervantes, 58, Wills Point, was driving a black Chevrolet pickup when it left the roadway and crashed into the front of the SOS Processing office at 901 W. Garland St. (Hwy. 80) in Grand Saline.

He was transported to Cozby-Germany Hospital in Grand Saline for treatment of his injuries.

The building, near the intersection of West Frank Street and West Garland in Grand Saline, was knocked one and one-half feet off its slab, according to the incident report. The collision also knocked over the building’s gas meter, causing a natural gas leak.

Grand Saline Police Department Investigator Leslie Lehmann said Centerpoint Energy was called to the scene to shut off the gas.

Mike Horton of Alba, who co-owns the property and business with wife Pamela Horton, said they are still in negotiation with their insurance company but the heavy damage has made taking an inventory difficult.

"We still have things in there we can’t get out. We will probably have to have a construction crew come in…you can get in the back door a little bit, but it’s impossible to get through the front," he said.

"Our number one focus right now is trying to move the office," Horton said.

He added the business is still operating while relocation plans are being made. The company’s home office is in Golden.

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brady Lunceford, who conducted an investigation at the time of the accident, said alcohol was a factor in the crash and that the information has been sent to the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office.

A city stop sign and pole were also destroyed, the incident report stated.