If you were looking for visual evidence that Detroit's Dodge Charger problem has gotten way out of hand, here you go:
After a Charger two months ago crashed into a 78-year-old pedestrian, killing him, then another going the wrong way down a side street crashed into a 9-year-old boy, killing him too. Over the weekend, a Charger crashed into Trinosophes, a beloved coffee shop and events space at the edge of Eastern Market.
Detroit police have been trying unsuccessfully to get a handle on what they've described as a scourge of stolen Chargers and other muscle cars terrorizing the city. Initially, drivers mostly blocked off roads and freeways, agitating residents with the sounds, scents and marks of burnouts, but a growing number of accidents in recent months have drawn increased scrutiny.
Trinosophes is reconstructing part of its store front as a result of the weekend crash, Metro Times reports:
"We want to let you know that last night there was an accident on Gratiot and a car crashed into our gallery store front," the owners wrote on Instagram. "Nobody was hurt, thankfully. We believe the situation involved a car that was swerving to avoid a parked car they didn’t see, and hit another car that then hit the building. Please be safe out there!"
The venue added that none of the many houseplants that it keeps near the windows were destroyed.
According to the owners, the damage will not impact the venue's café or the attached Peoples Records.
The venue has been closed since the pandemic emergency was declared last March, but the café is now open on weekends.
The Detroit Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for more information.