Fund-Raiser Looks to Replace Damage from Day-Care Crash

RALEIGH, N.C. — Parents and staff members at a Raleigh day-care are looking for answers to a high-speed mystery that damaged a classroom in the building.

An SUV slammed into the Method Child Development Center Monday morning. Police told the day-care directors that the stolen vehicle was going at least 80 miles an hour on Avent Ferry Road when it went airborne and crashed through a sign and the power pole before hitting the building.

“The first thing I said was, ‘Oh, my God, what do we do now? How do we start our day? Are we going to open? What are we going to do with the 18 kids who are in that classroom?’ said Method administrator Hope Gill.

The day-care closed Monday while crews removed the car and cleaned up the mess. On Tuesday, they reopened with plywood where a window and wall stood less than two days earlier.

“The classroom's not the same,” Gill said. “It’s up and running. They're missing a lot of things to add to their education.”

The Buick took out more than just the wall. It also destroyed books and toys. Saturday's yard sale is a regular fund raiser for the day-care, but this year its purpose was to replace things lost in the wreck.

In the meantime, police are looking for the people inside the SUV. Parents and staff at the day-care said they hope everyone involved is caught, but the damage has already been done.