A vehicle veered off road early Tuesday morning in the Mendenhall Valley and rammed into a bus stop, ripping its support beams from the ground and shattering the glass panels, police say.
No one was injured in the crash, which was reported to the Juneau Police Department at 1:44 a.m. Tuesday from a resident who lives near the bus stop located in the 3800 block of Mendenhall Loop Road in front of Glacier Valley Baptist Church. The caller reported that it sounded like a car accident, JPD spokeswoman Erann Kalwara said.
Kalwara said police are continuing to investigate the incident. There are no suspects at this time, but police are following up on a description of a vehicle seen near the bus stop.
On Wednesday, city maintenance employees began working on repairs. A damage estimate was not immediately available, but City and Borough of Juneau Streets, Fleet and Transit Superintendent Ed Foster said some upkeep for the city’s bus stops is budgeted for each year.
Foster noted that at first, it looked like the damaged bus stop would have to be replaced entirely, which would have cost around $10,000. But a closer analysis showed replacing the glass panels and bent posts might be enough to keep it functional.
Foster said the bus stop is now safe for riders and is in use on all routes.
• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.
