Just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, an SUV slammed into the Liberty Place complex in Center City, hitting the facade at 17th and Ludlow streets next to the Westin Hotel garage. The impact knocked down a pole with a one-way street sign and drove it straight through the building’s front doors, drawing a heavy emergency response. Police said the crash appeared to be an accident, and no one was believed to be seriously hurt. City inspectors were called in to check whether the high-rise suffered any structural damage.
What happened
According to 6ABC Philadelphia, the SUV hit the pole just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, sending it through the front entrance of Liberty Place near the Westin garage at 17th and Ludlow streets. Police told the station they believe the driver’s collision with the building was accidental, and no serious injuries were reported.
Inspectors to assess damage
City inspectors were dispatched to evaluate potential damage to the Liberty Place complex. The Department of Licenses and Inspections says its staff investigates conditions that could put the public at risk and can order repairs, permits, or even evacuations if a building is deemed unsafe, according to the City of Philadelphia.
Liberty Place in the skyline
Liberty Place is a centerpiece of the Center City skyline, with towers that rank among Philadelphia’s tallest. One Liberty Place at 1650 Market Street reaches about 945 feet, according to Wikipedia. The complex includes street-level retail, the Westin hotel, and an underground garage that opens onto 17th Street, per the building’s official site (ONE Liberty Place), placing the crash very close to regular hotel and pedestrian activity.
A recent pattern
Crashes involving vehicles slamming into storefronts and building facades have been popping up around Philadelphia in recent weeks, often triggering calls to L&I and short-term shutdowns. On May 31, another SUV smashed into a Southwest Philly corner market and blew open part of the store’s exterior, an incident that also required a structural inspection (SUV smashed into a Southwest Philly corner market).
What investigators say
Police officers and building inspectors remained at Liberty Place into the morning, working to piece together what caused the SUV to careen into the building and send a street sign flying into the lobby. This story will be updated if the Philadelphia Police Department or the city’s Licenses and Inspections office releases additional findings.
