A rental car plowed into the side of a historic Rondo building in St. Paul on Sunday, carving a huge hole in the brick and spraying glass and masonry across the sidewalk. Neighbors and lodge members did not wait around for orders, rushing in to clear debris while police and emergency crews locked down the scene.
Video shows wrecked car, boarded wall, and busy crews
Video posted by CBS Minnesota shows the mangled vehicle on Milton Street as tow trucks move in to haul it away. Responders and volunteers crowd around the damaged storefront while crews start boarding up the gaping opening. Officers can be seen speaking with the driver as traffic is routed around the block so workers can sweep up debris and check the area for hazards.
Police: driver blamed brakes, got cited as neighbors cleaned up
According to St. Paul police, the car slammed into the building at 334 N. Milton St., leaving what one lodge member called a “garage-size” hole. The driver told officers the brakes on his rental had failed, but he was cited for failure to drive with due care and for not having proof of insurance, Pioneer Press reports. The building houses Pioneer Lodge No. 1 and its Club Milton social club, a spot lodge leaders say is central to holiday meals, turkey giveaways, and school-supply drives for the neighborhood. Witnesses said lodge members and nearby residents quickly swept glass from the entrance and helped secure the storefront while officers documented the damage for insurance and structural review.
Historic lodge is a big deal in Rondo
Pioneer Lodge No. 1 has deep roots in Rondo’s civic life, and the crash hit in a stretch of the neighborhood that has seen recent city investment, including street resurfacing and pedestrian upgrades outlined by the City of Saint Paul. Lodge officers say community programs and outreach remain their top priority as they sort through the damage. Regulars at Club Milton and nearby neighbors have already been checking in, offering help and asking how the lodge can keep its community services going while the wall is rebuilt.
Inspectors, insurers, and contractors up next
City building inspectors are expected to review the masonry to decide whether any orders need to be issued before Club Milton can fully reopen, and lodge leaders say they will be working with insurers and contractors on repairs, according to Pioneer Press. Worshipful Master Abdulla Reed said members and neighbors had already rolled up their sleeves to help clear the scene, and that the lodge is focused on keeping services available for residents while the building is fixed. Police have not announced any additional criminal charges beyond the citations issued at the scene as investigators continue their work.
