Church Building Struck by Power Truck

Rev. Rick Pinckney looked up from his Tuesday-afternoon prayer group to see a large vehicle from the local electric company creeping under the north end of Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church’s portico.

A power truck ripped a hole in the church’s portico.

Noah Kruis

Having barely cleared the edifice, the vehicle picked up speed when approaching the south end. This time it did not clear the portico. Instead it tore away the plaster, leaving a gaping hole in the church building.

The portico was struck previously when a school bus attempted to drive beneath it. The church’s custodian, Marcia Koll, who was in the building at that time, recalls hearing a giant crash. She ran outside to find that the bus driver had tried to turn around in the church parking lot. The bus damaged the brickwork immediately above the currently damaged spot.

DTE Energy will cover the cost of repairs this time around, once the church obtains estimates for the work.  

“I’ll be happy if the repair work is done by the end of August,” says Pinckney, reflecting on the laborious red tape of repair quotes and insurance filings.