Driver charged after crashing into northern Ontario church

A 79-year-old man has been charged after crashing his car into St. Alban the Martyr Church in Mattawa on Friday. The vehicle left the roadway and went the wall.

A vehicle collided with the Church Hall building of St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church in Mattawa, Ont., on Friday morning, causing what appears to be significant structural damage and resulting in charges for the driver.

Emergency response

Ontario Provincial Police said the single-vehicle collision occurred at about 1:45 a.m. on July 18.

Church officials said the driver was transported to hospital and emergency crews worked through the day to clear the scene.

“Please keep [the motorist] in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” the church wrote.

In an email to CTV News, an OPP spokesperson confirmed the driver was assessed at Mattawa Hospital but “there were no serious injuries sustained.”

In a social media post, the church expressed gratitude to first responders, including the Mattawa and Papineau-Cameron Fire Departments, paramedics, local mechanics, tow truck operators and OPP.

The Papineau-Cameron Fire Department confirmed its involvement in an email to CTVNorthernOntario.ca, noting it had been assisting Mattawa crews on another call prior to the crash.

“Papineau-Cameron Fire Department was assisting with another call with them just before this one, which was why we were in the same area,” said Fire Chief Neil O’Grady.

O’Grady declined to comment further on the incident, directing inquiries to Mattawa officials.

In a brief message to CTV News, Tanya McMartin, the church’s caretaker, confirmed that she and her husband were called to the scene by emergency officials Friday morning.

Ontario 511’s highway webcam at the nearby Highway 17 roundabout captured images of the emergency response.

Damage and recovery

“The vehicle was being driven … on McConnell Street and after entering the roundabout at Valois Drive (near the church) it left the roadway and hit the church,” said OPP officials.

The vehicle broke through the wall of the hall, located at 8 Main Street, and was removed by Friday evening.

The church announced the hall would remain closed indefinitely pending repairs.

Police said they do not have details on the extent of the damage to the building.

CTV News has also reached out to the church and the Mattawa Fire Department for further details about the damages, but has not yet received a response.

As a result of the incident, the driver, a 79-year-old local man, has been charged with careless driving and driving a vehicle with the seatbelt assembly removed.