Historic Athens Building Partially Collapses After Crash
A Morgan County man died early Wednesday when his pickup truck collided with a downtown building, causing major structural damage.
A tragic incident occurred early Wednesday morning in downtown Athens when a vehicle rammed into a historic building, resulting in a partial collapse and significant structural damage. The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 46-year-old Kevin Cissner of Buckhead, was killed in the crash.
Athens-Clarke police Lieutenant Katie Jenkins reported that the sequence of events began around 7:20 a.m. when law enforcement received a call concerning a potentially suicidal individual at a local downtown hotel. An officer soon spotted the Ford F-150 driven by Cissner and attempted a routine traffic stop.
According to authorities, the driver chose to flee the scene rather than pull over. "The vehicle fled. We did not pursue the vehicle," Jenkins stated regarding the brief encounter.
The fleeing truck traveled down Jackson Street, a notable steep decline, before crossing Broad Street and plowing directly into the structure. The impact triggered the collapse of the building's corner, exposing the interior across all three of its floors.
The affected structure houses Magnolias Bar on the ground floor and Republic Salon on the third floor. Following the collision, local authorities blocked off a large section of West Broad Street, a major thoroughfare handling downtown traffic.
Athens-Clarke Police Chief Jerry Saulters arrived at the scene alongside structural engineers to evaluate the extent of the damage. Crews and state transportation officials were brought in to stabilize the historic building and prevent any further collapse.
Police have strongly urged motorists to avoid the surrounding area, including East Broad Street between Lumpkin Street and Thomas Street, while emergency personnel and investigators continue their work. Officials noted that the necessary road closures would create significant traffic disruptions throughout the day.
The Georgia State Patrol is actively assisting local authorities by leading the investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the crash.