GS housing officials are offering temporary housing in local hotels to 134 students living in the Centennial Place student housing which was impacted by an early morning car crash on December 3, 2022.
As reported earlier today by Grice Connect, the Centennial Place student housing complex on the GS campus received extensive damage after a car crashed into the building early Saturday morning.
Driver not a student
According to Mike Broadhead, Statesboro Police Chief the 21 year old male driver of the car was NOT a student. The driver was taken by Bulloch County EMS from the scene with what appeared to minor injuries. The driver was later arrested and charged with DUI, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and several other traffic charges. It was a single car crash into the building.
Chief Broadhead said there is no indication that this car crash was anything more than an accident.
Students offered temporary housing
John Lester, GS V.P. of Communications and Marketing confirmed that during the night GS housing staff initially moved all of the residents in that wing of the building to the lobby area of one of the other wings. They then decided as an abundance of caution to ask the students to not return to their apartments until they could have the building thoroughly inspected by structural engineers.
Rooms in local hotels were made available for any of the 134 students impacted by this accident who did not have anywhere else to go. As of Saturday morning, Lester did not have an full count of the number of students who stayed in local hotels.
Ted Hasbrouch, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express Statesboro confirmed that they were able to make available a large number of rooms during the night. Hasbrouch did not have a total number of rooms utilized by students overnight.
Structural engineers clear majority of apartments as safe to return
Saturday morning, GS brought in structural engineers to inspect the building. The engineers determined that all but the 10 apartments closest to the area of impact were safe to return. There are 36 students living in those 10 apartments affected by this determination. GS housing staff will be working with these 36 students to help to help them get their personal items out of their rooms. These 36 students will also be offered housing in local hotels through Friday, December 9, 2022. All residents halls are scheduled to close for the end of the semester on December 9th.
Hotels available through Friday to all 134
Lester said that even though engineers have cleared all but 10 rooms they will continue to offer hotel rooms to all 134 students through Friday, December 9, 2022. They are making this offer for any students who are concerned about returning to the building.
Students or parents who have any questions are instructed to contact the GS housing staff or the GS Dean of Students.
