One hospitalized in Hinckley car crash into building

HINCKLEY TWP. — At least one person was taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon following a two-vehicle crash that led to one car crashing into the front of Hinckley's Coffee and Donuts. Six individuals — two adults and four children — were in the SUV that crashed into the building at 1388 Ridge Road. Hinckley fire Chief Jestin Grossenbaugh said Richfield Fire Department took one of the individuals to the hospital. The others were given the option to take themselves if they needed. Grossenbaugh said the call came in at about 12:09 p.m. and because his crews were already tied up, he received mutual aid from surrounding departments. "Upon arrival, we found the SUV into the doughnut shop," he said. "Our squad was out on another run so we requested mutual aid from Richfield, Brunswick and Granger Township. Richfield transported one, I'm not sure of the injuries, and everybody in the SUV was assessed. There were minor injuries and they would be transporting themselves." Hinckley police Chief David Centner said the crash happened when a pickup was attempting to turn right on red from state Route 303 west onto Ridge Road north. In that process, the truck crossed into the path of the northbound traveling SUV. The SUV then struck the pickup truck and veered left, ultimately driving into the doughnut shop. Neither Center nor Grossenbaugh had any information regarding the number of occupants or any possible injuries sustained by those in the pickup truck. The crash remains under investigation but it is not believed that drugs or alcohol were involved. Ashley Bator was the only employee inside the store at the time of the crash. Just prior to the crash, she had been standing in the front of the store but was in the back when the car crashed into it. "(My first reaction was) just to make sure that everyone was OK," Bator said. "(I was in) shock. The goal was to make sure everyone was out (of the car) OK and they were, thank God. Other than that it was just trying to catch my emotions because I'm pregnant and thinking where I was standing five seconds before it happened." Karl Kastl, one of the co-owners of the building where the doughnut shop is located, said he was also in the back of the building when the crash happened. He heard the crash but said one of the building's employees told him he felt the whole building shake when it happened. In his two and a half years owning the building, he said traffic has always been an issue in the area. "We're used to having accidents right here," Kastl said. "Traffic is way too fast coming through this town. Last week, we had an accident. I was in the coffee shop, a lady ran through the light and hit a pole on the side of the building. It's a common problem that we have." Contact reporter Jack Kopanski at (330) 721-4063 or jkopanski@medina-gazette.com.