Westmoreland City Post Office temporarily closed after SUV crashes into, damages building

WESTMORELAND CITY, Pa. — The Westmoreland City Post Office is temporarily closed after an SUV slammed into the side of the building early Monday morning.

Neighbors tell Channel 11 they were stunned when they saw the damage

“I heard all of the sirens,” said Betty Jean Vicelli, who lives across the street. “When I went for a walk I noticed this.”

She noticed bricks scattered all over the sidewalk and a gaping hole in the side of the building.

“The first thing I thought was a car,” Vicelli said. “Why in Westmoreland City? I had no idea what really happened.”

“The first thing I actually thought was, ‘was there a terrorist attack? Was there damage done to the post office?’” said William Swope of North Huntingdon.

Officials tell Channel 11 that someone driving an SUV had mistaken their gas for the brake pedal and drove up on the sidewalk and into the building.

Several people stopped by the post office Monday afternoon to drop off or pick up mail, including Swope.

“I was just going to mail some of my bills,” Swope told Channel 11′s Andrew Havranek.

But – the Westmoreland City Post Office will be closed until repairs are finished.

The damage is to the load-bearing wall – that’s the wall holding up the roof. The North Huntingdon Township building inspector declined an interview but told Channel 11 the building is condemned until it’s fully repaired.

The township will inspect the framework before it’s installed, and then a final inspection will be done before the business reopens.

In the meantime, those who have a P.O. Box, have to pick up mail that was held while they were out of town, or are picking up oversized or signature-required items, can do so at the Manor Post Office about a mile away.

Actual mail delivery will not be impacted.

Neighbors are glad employees and the driver are safe.

“I’m so glad that everybody’s okay,” Vicelli said. “The health and well-being of the person is much better than the structure.”

Post Office officials tell Channel 11 there is no timetable for when repairs will be completed.

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