A driver crashed into the historic Old State Bank building on Main Street the evening of Thursday, April 2, destroying the door and part of the building’s foundation.
A Brown County Democrat reporter leaving the office heard the crash, went to the scene and called for help.
On April 6, the official police report was released identifying the driver as 26-year-old Alyssa Harden of Nashville.
Harden told police she was driving west on East Main Street when the sun prevented her from seeing and she drove the vehicle into the building.
A witness to the crash said he was on the corner of Van Buren and East Main streets witnessed the vehicle “squeal on the curb and slam into the building,” an accident report from Nashville Police Department states.
The report shows that Harden was not treated at the scene for any injuries by EMS. It was marked “unknown” if she had a seat belt on.
A Nashville officer, EMS 8, Brown County Tire and Nashville Fire responded for the crash at 71 E. Main St. after a call was made at 6:37 p.m. They roped off the building and blocked the street, which remained closed until the morning of Friday, April 3.
The vehicle was towed from the scene.
The building is home to Joyfoli Plant Shop, which opened in July 2018.
The building was built in 1906, according to the 1995 Brown County Interim Report. Over the years, it also had housed the Nashville Post Office; a realty office; a candy and gift shop; an antique store; the State Bank Arts Affair; Touch of Silver Gold and Old; and a scooter and wheelchair rental store.
“Yesterday, a vehicle crashed into the front of the store,” a Facebook post from Joyfoli said. “Most importantly, no one was injured. The building is temporarily secured, and we will rebuild and reopen. Thank you for your prayers.“
