Van crashes into Manotick business during Thursday’s storm

The Ottawa Fire Services says a van crashed into a home that houses a business and residential units on Thursday. No one was hurt. (Ottawa Fire Services/submitted)

A Manotick business says it will be closed “until further notice” after a van crashed into its building during Thursday’s snowstorm.

Emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash on Manotick Main Street just before 2 p.m. on Thursday.

The Ottawa Fire Services says one of the vehicles involved in the collision left the roadway and struck the front of a two-storey century home that houses the Green Spirit Rising on the ground floor and residential units above.

“The minivan caused significant damage to the building’s façade, pushing part of the front wall inward and compromising the structure,” Nick DeFazio, Ottawa Fire Services Public Information Officer, said.

Photos shared by the Ottawa Fire Services showed the front of the building damaged by the minivan.

DeFazio said firefighters cleared the inside of the business to allow the Structural Collapse Team to install emergency shoring.

“A stabilization system was constructed, including a double T shore in the basement beneath the impacted area and a laced post extending from the main floor to the second floor, transferring the load from the upper floor safely to the ground,” DeFazio said.

“Once the structure was stabilized, the vehicle was safely removed. Thanks to the rapid and effective shoring operations, the second-floor residential tenants were not displaced.”

There were no reports of injuries following the collision and damage to the building.

In a post on Facebook, the owner of Green Spirit Rising said the business will be closed until further notice.

“Today has been a bit of a rough day,” Caroline said in the post

“A car collided with the front of our shop and has caused quite a bit of damage. Everyone is safe; it’s good that the shop was closed.”

Green Spirit Rising had been closed on Thursday due to the storm.