Vehicle crashes into Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus building
SAUKVILLE, Wis. - The Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus building in Saukville was damaged on Sunday morning, Nov. 24, after a car crashed into it.
According to the Wisconsin Humane Society, at 6:30 a.m., a driver left westbound State Highway 33 at a high rate of speed and struck the building.
The Saukville Police Department said a 48-year-old driver from Michigan smashed into the building. Police say the man was speeding on State Trunk Highway 33 when he left the road and crashed.
Damage to the front of the building. PHOTO CREDIT: Wisconsin Humane Society
The most significant impact was to the animal arrivals area, which serves as the front desk for taking in stray animals, lost animal redemptions, surrender appointments, and more. That area will require extensive repairs.
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No animals or staff were harmed as the car crashed into the building just west of the main entrance.
"As far as we understand, the driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries," said Angela Speed, Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
The Saukville Fire Department confirmed that one person was transported to a local hospital.
"Staff were onsite within minutes of notification, an emergency crew is securing the building, and a building inspector is onsite to ensure the building is safe to use," Speed added.
A Grafton building inspector was called to inspect the building to determine if it was safe to resume day-to-day operations.
"The car missed a utility pole, a couple of trees, light posts, curbs, a fence, there were a lot of things that could have stopped it," Speed said.
She said she is still trying to wrap her head around what happened.
"It’s very striking," Speed said. "As you can see, our staff have taped this off while clean up ensues."
Speed said the damage is not going to impact day-to-day operations and services.
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"Here we are, and we’re going to work really hard to make sure that services don’t get interrupted," Speed said.
Despite the setback, she said they will have adoptions again next Saturday, Nov. 30.
"Coming in, I didn’t expect the building being crashed in by a vehicle," volunteer Jorge Martinez said. "I can see the tire marks from here on up."
He immediately thought of the animals.
"I think they heard this big crash, I think they probably got scared," Martinez said.
Anybody that is interested in donating can do so at the Wisconsin Humane Society website, call the Ozaukee location at 262-377-7580 or donate in-person.