A Denver church sustained significant structural damage Friday evening when a truck tore through its walls, as reported by several sources in the Denver area. The Bethel United Methodist Church, located on Campground Road, was the building struck by a Ford 350 Super Duty truck. WBTV detailed that the incident occurred around 6:30 p.m., and the Denver Fire Department responded to the scene. The driver, identified as 49-year-old Alejandro Ramirez, was unharmed but was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including driving while impaired and reckless driving.
After crossing the center line and leaving the road to collide firstly with a utility pole and subsequently the church itself, Ramirez incurred charges and a $1,000 bond, now being held at the Lincoln County Detention Center. As reported by WCNC, the emergency crews were able to extract the truck and stabilize the church with the support of various services and official representatives. The subsequent damage brought forth contractors and a building inspector to assess and address the immediate concerns.
Power lines were downed as a result of the accident, prompting a response from EnergyUnited to manage the utilities, while Denver Fire Department personnel offered medical care to Ramirez while awaiting Lincoln County EMS. According to a social media post from Denver Fire Department, the on-site teamwork included multiple agencies and entities which were crucial in the intervention and temporary repair.
The congregation of Bethel United Methodist Church has been forced to temporarily relocate worship services to the church's fellowship hall, as member Julie Shackleton mentioned in a statement on the church's Facebook group. Expressing a sense of continuity despite the disruption, she appreciated "the contractor who installed new windows earlier in the week was the same one who helped with the temporary repair," as mentioned on WCNC. As emergency crews worked past 1 a.m. to secure the scene, Denver Fire Department also thanked everyone for their collaborative efforts during this extensive and challenging response.
