A small Volkswagen Beetle went airborne along Highway 9 just south of Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell around midday Sunday, slamming into the side of an unoccupied building and scattering debris across the sidewalk. First responders pulled the woman driving the overturned car from the wreckage and took her to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. No one inside the vacant building was injured.
Witnesses Say Beetle 'Catapulted' Off Curb
Tyler Shoemaker told WSB-TV he and his fiancée watched the small car clip a curb, launch roughly 10 feet into the air, smash into the building and then land upside down. According to Shoemaker, the impact sent parts flying across the street, including what he described as an engine block resting about 20 feet from the wrecked Beetle. He called 911 and said bystanders moved in to help the driver until emergency crews arrived.
Crews Secure Vacant Business After Violent Impact
Police and Roswell Fire Department crews responded to what Atlanta News First describes as an unoccupied business near Highway 9 and Liberty Lane, and the city’s Traffic Enforcement Unit has opened an investigation. The outlet reported the building was vacant at the time and no other injuries were reported. Crews worked at the scene to clear debris from the roadway and sidewalk and to secure the structure after the crash.
Police Eye Possible Mental-Health Crisis Behind Crash
Roswell police told WSB-TV that “Our preliminary investigation points heavily toward a mental health crisis and intentional attempt at self-harm by the driver,” adding that officers believe the woman hit other vehicles or fixed objects before crashing into the building. Investigators have not released the driver’s name. She remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries as the exact chain of events stays under review by the Traffic Enforcement Unit.
Next Steps As Investigators Piece It Together
Shoemaker praised first responders for how quickly they moved in, saying their work likely prevented a worse outcome. Roswell police say the investigation is ongoing as officers review witness statements and comb through vehicle evidence from the crash scene.
