BOISE, Idaho — A Boise non-profit was damaged Friday morning after police said a drunk driver crashed into the building.
According to police, the Boise Bicycle Project (BBP) building on South Lusk Street had a truck run into their building at around 2:45 a.m.
Devin McComas, executive director of BBP, said he didn't find out about the crash until he showed up to work and saw a huge hole in the building.
"It's a hole that's about my wingspan,” McComas said. “The lower brick wall is kind of leaning this way, all the glass has been broken out."
Something McComas was not prepared for when he showed up to work Friday morning.
"That feeling when I rode my bicycle up this morning, I was thinking about all the work we have to do today, and it was sort of a sinking feeling."
A sinking feeling because the bicycle project is gearing up for its Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway.
"We're getting ready to give away 570 bikes to kids and underserved families in Boise next weekend,” McComas said. “This is definitely sort of impacting that drive."
Now, the bicycle project is going to have to be firing on all cylinders after police say someone who was driving while drunk, crashed into their building.
"Our bandwidth is stretched really thin. Most of our crew are working at 10- or 12-hour day already,” McComas said. “So, it probably means that there are some longer hours for some of our crew to try and make sure that this is safe, to make sure that we can function, and we can serve the needs of the community today, tomorrow, and then also that we can put on the best event we've ever done on the 16th."
The goal of the bicycle project is to help advocate for safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians. McComas said this DUI-related crash is a perfect example of why their organization is needed.
"It's also illustrating why it's so important for us to advocate for safe streets for all users,” McComas said. “This is an example of why we need safe streets, better traffic infrastructure and enforcement along our streets to make sure that if you're riding a bike or a pedestrian that you're protected."
So, they are looking to the community to help the organization get over this obstacle and early Friday morning, they got their first set of helping hands.
"When I was standing here, and my mouth was open, some construction workers walked by who were in our neighborhood, and they said, they'd help us out,” McComas said. “They came back and put up some boards for us and that's just a great example of the kind of community we live in.”
McComas said that they are hoping they can get the support of the community whether it's financially for both helping fix the building for the bike giveaway or to help volunteer for the giveaway on Dec. 16.
For more information about the non-profit, you can visit their website at boisebicycleproject.org.
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