Car crushed by falling piece of building in downtown Evansville

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Safety measures are being added to a building in downtown Evansville after a car was crushed by a slab of concrete.

According to the Building Commission, high winds caused a piece of concrete from a building at 4th and Main Street at the base of the former Hilliard Lyons Building to blow off and land on a parked car.

Officials said the chunk of concrete came from the fire stairwell on the back of the building all the way up there.

It tumbled into the parking lot and caused the wreckage

Summer Blanton owns the car that was destroyed, and she said she had just bought it last month.

“It looks like the Hulk came through and just took his fist and just smashed it in,” she said.

Interim Building Commissioner Jim Stauber said they’ve been aware of some of the façade issues. He said for four or five weeks they’ve been urging the building owners to repair the concrete boards on the stairwell.

Officials said thankfully no one was in the car at the time of the concrete falling.

Blanton said they’ve been keeping an eye on it themselves.

“I’ve noticed dad every time he comes down he kind of looks up every time he walks underneath there because he gets nervous,” said Blanton.

Officials said contractors will be making temporary repairs on Saturday morning and again on Monday until something more permanent can be done to keep this from happening again.

According to the City Assessor’s website, the building is owned by Evansville Reo Portfolio LLC.

Stauber said the owners will assume all of the costs for the building’s repairs and for Blanton’s car.

Our crew has tried to reach out to management, but we were told they have no comment at this time.

Here are pictures of the car below:

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