Car crashes through office

When an unmanned vehicle causes damage, it is usually military technology doing its duty.

But while a 1998 Dodge Dakota punctured the Oak Harbor Internal Medicine’s wall on March 22, Uncle Sam isn’t going to claim credit.

“It drove into the side of the building and broke into an office,” said Doug Bishop, chief financial officer for Whidbey General Hospital, which manages the practice.

The hospital is still waiting for an estimate for the cost of the repairs, but in an emergency meeting Monday, the hospital’s board of directors voted to approve waiving the bid process since insurance will be able to cover the cost of the repairs.

When the truck, which was not affiliated with the office, rolled into the building, it pushed a wall approximately 10 inches, Bishop said. It caused damage to an office inside the building.

Bishop would not name the owner of the vehicle. Oak Harbor Police Capt. Rick Wallace said that since no driver was involved, a name is not available.

The accident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., Bishop said. Only one person was in the building at the time, and that person was unhurt.

“There was one person there, but they didn’t see it,” Bishop said. “When it happened, they felt it but they didn’t see it.”

The office, which is across the street from the post office, will continue to see patients while repairs are being made.

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