Van crashes into Main Street business

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  • Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. A van crashed into the outside of Butler Galleries on Main Street in Clayton on Dec. 11. A Mountain City man was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment as a result of the accident.
    Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. A van crashed into the outside of Butler Galleries on Main Street in Clayton on Dec. 11. A Mountain City man was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment as a result of the accident.
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CLAYTON— A Mountain City man was taken to the hospital after crashing into a building on North Main Street in Clayton on Wednesday, December 11.

Gary Clarence Taylor, 72, was driving a maroon 2003 Chevrolet Astro Van when he crashed the vehicle into the business Butler Galleries, located at 76 N Main Street, around 5:07 p.m.

“Taylor stated that he was pulling into a parking space on N Main Street. He stated he hit the gas instead of the brake and his foot became hung on the gas pedal causing him to drive the vehicle into the building at 76 N Main Street,” according to Sgt. Travis Gibson, Clayton Police Officer, in the motor vehicle crash report narrative.

The vehicle became lodged inside the building, according to the report.

“Contents of the building were damaged and contractors were called to check the structural integrity of the building and board the broken windows,” Gibson reported.  

The business Butler Galleries is owned by Carl Butler and the building is owned by Chris Clay of Clay Contracting.

A city of Clayton park bench was also damaged in the incident, the report noted.

Taylor was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by Rabun County Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Diane Taylor was listed as a passenger in the vehicle in the motor vehicle crash report. 

“I’m just glad nobody got hurt. That’s the most important thing,” Butler said.