No injuries reported after SUV crashes into doctor's office waiting room in Hagerstown

Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail

No injuries were reported on Wednesday afternoon after a SUV crashed into the waiting room of a Mill Street doctor's office in Hagerstown, according to Washington County 911 and Hagerstown Police.

The incident at 265 Mill St. occurred around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Dr. Jeffrey Hurwitz's office suite has been condemned and cannot be occupied until repairs can be made, according to an email from Paul Fulk, neighborhood services manager for the City of Hagerstown.

Neighboring businesses were not affected, Fulk wrote.

That brick building houses several businesses. The doctor's office is on the north side of the building, farther back from the street.

The Hagerstown Fire Department was among emergency crews that responded Wednesday afternoon to a sports utility vehicle that crashed into the lobby of a Hagerstown doctor's office off Mill Street.
The Hagerstown Fire Department was among emergency crews that responded Wednesday afternoon to a sports utility vehicle that crashed into the lobby of a Hagerstown doctor's office off Mill Street.

Lt. Rebecca Fetchu, spokesperson for Hagerstown Police, texted that the driver hit the gas instead of the brake. Three older women were in the SUV and had to remain in the vehicle for about an hour while responders shored up the building so they could get the women out, she wrote.

Stacks of wood had been placed under the SUV and other supports placed to brace the opening in the wall.

A physicians' office off Mill Street was condemned Wednesday after an SUV crashed into the office. The suite cannot be occupied until repairs are made, a Hagerstown official said.
A physicians' office off Mill Street was condemned Wednesday after an SUV crashed into the office. The suite cannot be occupied until repairs are made, a Hagerstown official said.

There was a picture window at the point of impact, Fulk wrote.

Jagged glass could be seen along two sides of the opening. A chunk of the brick wall to the left and under the windows had been knocked out and there were cracks in the exterior wall.

Doctor praises first responders, neighbors who came to help

"We are so grateful that nobody got hurt," Hurwitz said in a phone interview.

The vehicle ended up in the waiting room, he said.

No one in the car or the office was hurt, he said.

Hurwitz praised the quick arrival and action from emergency responders and the "unbelievable support" from neighbors in the building's other suites.

"They all came to help," he said.

Hurwitz said he and his wife, Dr. Caroline Gessert, will be able to provide telemedicine appointments in the interim. He said his patients already have his phone numbers.

Hurwitz said the number of patients they are seeing was already winding down because they are closing their office later this year. The couple have been in practice together for 13 years.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: SUV crashes into waiting room of Hagerstown doctor's office

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