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CAR CRASHES INTO CHURCH
Car Slams Into Church, Again; Police Believe Driver Died Before Impact

Reported by: Send eMail Kristin Keeling
Web Producer: Kristin Keeling
Reported: Sep. 16, 2012 5:14 PM EDT
Updated: Sep. 16, 2012 6:06 PM EDT

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St. Albans , Kanawha County , West Virginia

A building that is supposed to be a safe sanctuary is now the spot of two deadly accidents.

Members of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church in St. Albans say the latest accident happened Saturday night when a woman somehow lost control of her car along MacCorkle Avenue, went off the road, over the hill and straight into a steel beam of the church's gym.

It's the second blow to the church in a matter of months.

In June, 64-year old Donald "Butch" Furbee from Fairmont accidentally drove into the other side of the church and died on impact.

Ironically, Pastor Mike Hager says he and Missionary James Starr were outside talking about that accident when the woman hit.

"Just when I was getting ready to open up my phone and show him the photographs, we heard a loud bang and saw the sparks flying from the transformer," said Hager.

The men say the accident happened so fast and they couldn't believe they were experiencing a similiar scene again. "When I saw the lady down there laying, I just felt so helpless. And all we could do was pray," said Starr.

Sadly, police believe the woman died before impact. But church members say they're now fearful for their safety. They say speeders are up and down the road all the time and they're afraid of something like this happening again.

"What if this would have been during a church service? Someone could have been killed or maybe eight or ten people," said church member, John White.

Church members say they're praying for the victim's family.

They also say they would like the state to decrease the speed limit in front of the church to ensure their safety.



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