The driver of this van lost control on South State Street and crashed into Bay Pharmacy, damaging the building, trees, a parking meter, and a flag pole in the early morning hours of Thursday, October 8. (Photographs by Doug Goudreau) Diane (nee Rickley) Grant, 44, of St. Ignace, has been charged with drunk driving following an early morning car crash that damaged the Bay Pharmacy building downtown Thursday, October 8.

Ms. Grant was driving northbound on South State Street at 3 a.m. when she lost control of her red van, drove over the sidewalk, and took out a parking meter, flagpole, and damaged two trees before striking the front of the building, breaking two of its windows, said City Police Chief Tim Matelski. Debris from the accident and from the store’s window and outdoor scarecrow displays was scattered inside the store and strewn across the street.

Ms. Grant was the only person in the vehicle.

At right: The Bay Pharmacy building in downtown St. Ignace sustained broken windows in an accident Thursday, October 8. The jaws of life tool was used to pull her from the van, and suffering cuts and scrapes, she was transported by ambulance to Mackinac Straits Hospital, where she was discharged Friday morning, October 9.

Ms. Grant was charged in 92nd District Court in St. Ignace Monday, October 12, with operating while intoxicated (first offense). She was released on a $500 bond and will appear in court October 28 for a pre-trial hearing.

The town’s only pharmacy opened for business as usual Thursday at 9 a.m., said owner Paula Goudreau. This was possible, Mrs. Goudreau said, because several townspeople stopped by in the early hours to volunteer to help repair the building, and her staff also voluntarily came in at 7 a.m. to help.