Car Crashes Into Comfort Suites Lobby; Driver Arrested

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Published on January 11 2016 2:44 pm
Last Updated on January 12 2016 11:34 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(A PERSON ON SCENE PROVIDED THIS PHOTO OF THE CAR THAT CRASHED INTO THE LOBBY OF COMFORT SUITES MONDAY AFTERNOON)

A car crashed into the lobby of Comfort Suites on West Fayette Monday afternoon. No one was injured.

Illinois State Police and Effingham City Police investigated the incident, which occurred around 1pm.

(CREWS WORKING TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE LOBBY...photo by Greg Sapp)

The reason for the incident is not yet known. A woman, 32-year-old Rachel E. Jones of Farina, was alone in the car. Those inside the lobby at the time of the incident said they heard the car hit the entrance doors once and then hit them again, causing the glass in the windows to shatter. The car went completely inside the lobby and past the lobby desk, finally coming to a stop in the breakfast area along the east wall, past the stairway to the second floor.

There are pillars on either side of the entrance doors, so a straight shot is the only way to get to the doors with a vehicle.

Jones got out of the car after the incident and was taken into custody. She was arrested by State Police on counts of DUI drugs, driving on a revoked license, no valid registration, possession of stolen property, criminal damage to property, resisting a peace officer, reckless conduct, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and reckless driving. Jones was also arrested Monday by Effingham County sheriff's deputies on counts of retail theft and driving on a revoked license.

(THE CAR OUTSIDE THE MOTEL AFTER IT WAS BACKED OUT OF THE LOBBY BY HAND BY AUTHORITIES...photo by Greg Sapp)

Crews were working to get the entrance secured to the building. Effingham firefighters were also on scene.

Mark Wildbur of Comfort Suites said in 23 years in the hospitality industry, he thought he'd seen it all. 

Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said Comfort Suites was closed after the incident while authorities checked the motel for any structural damage. The motel re-opened Monday evening.