A gray Dodge Challenger sat parked outside Planned Parenthood's West Eugene Health Center for about 10 minutes before it slammed through the building's front windows, leaving a vehicle-sized hole in the clinic on North Danebo Avenue. Eugene police are now investigating the crash as a hit-and-run.
Police responded at 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, after a press release said a neighboring business owner had reported the gray Challenger sitting in the parking lot before the crash, according to Lookout Eugene-Springfield. The press release also said the car appeared to intentionally accelerate into the building rather than simply lose control.
The damage was severe. Per the outlet's reporting, the impact tore a hole roughly the size of the vehicle itself where the clinic's front windows used to be. As reported by KCBY, the Challenger reportedly backed out of the building and left the scene before officers arrived, which is why police are treating the case as a hit-and-run.
Clinic Representative Calls Crash Targeted
A Planned Parenthood representative said she felt the incident was targeted, the same account notes, though the evidence gathered so far does not identify who was behind the wheel or establish a motive. No suspect description, license plate, or arrest has been disclosed, and police have not released additional details beyond confirming the investigation is ongoing.
Planned Parenthood's own website lists the West Eugene Health Center as “Open” following the crash, according to the clinic's West Eugene Health Center page. The organization says its Eugene-Springfield Health Center remains open for patients in the meantime, though no timeline has been given for when the Danebo Avenue location might reopen.
Eugene police continue to investigate the crash, and no further updates on a suspect or vehicle have been made public.
