A vehicle crashed into the Tim Hortons at 13240 32 Mile Road in Washington Township on Thursday, September 17, 2026, tearing into the building while it was closed and leaving two employees who were cleaning in the back unharmed. The impact caused significant structural damage, leaving the coffee chain closed as repairs and inspections get underway.
Township officials said the driver was taken away by ambulance for medical evaluation, and that a seizure is among the possible causes being considered, according to ClickOnDetroit. Officials also said alcohol and drugs do not appear to have played a role in the crash. Township officials are evaluating whether the damaged restaurant can safely reopen in the coming days while structural repairs to the building continue.
Emergency Crews Descend On 32 Mile Road
Washington Township first responders, township fire personnel, EMS crews and Macomb County Sheriff's Office deputies all responded jointly to secure the scene at 13240 32 Mile Road, the township said. Emergency personnel gave the driver a medical assessment on site before the ambulance transport. The two employees who had been cleaning in the back of the building were not injured, officials confirmed.
The building will remain closed until repairs and inspections are completed, though the timeline for that work has not been detailed. Open questions remain about the full extent of the structural damage, the driver's condition following hospitalization, and whether township inspectors will ultimately sign off on reopening while the repair work proceeds.
A Recurring Risk For Storefronts With Drive-Throughs
Storefronts face risks from vehicle-into-building crashes, and parking-lot design can affect those risks. Research compiled by the Storefront Safety Council and cited by the McCue Corporation found that restaurants account for 19% of all commercial storefront crashes nationwide, with pedal misapplication and driver medical emergencies among the leading causes.
Vehicle-into-building crashes are far more common than most drivers realize. Data reviewed by the NKyTribune shows these incidents occur up to 100 times per day across the country, causing roughly 16,000 injuries and 2,600 fatalities annually. Yet federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration routinely exclude crashes that happen entirely on private property, like commercial parking lots, from their annual tallies, according to Streetsblog USA, leaving groups like the Storefront Safety Council to track the toll independently.
Macomb County's Traffic Safety Record
The crash also lands in Macomb County, though the county's traffic statistics are not detailed here. A separate 2025 analysis of state crash data is not detailed here.
If a medical emergency is ultimately confirmed as the cause, the driver could face administrative scrutiny beyond the immediate cleanup. Michigan's medical-based driver reexamination process can lead to possible driving restrictions, according to Michigan Defense Law.
Washington Township has dealt with serious traffic incidents before. In a fatal crash case from February 2024, the driver was charged with reckless driving causing death following a separate collision investigated in the township. For now, the 32 Mile Road Tim Hortons remains shuttered as officials weigh whether reopening is possible while the broader repair work continues.
