Car crashes into Tri-Cities elementary school. Classroom damaged

A car ran through a chain link fence and crashed into the wall of a classroom at Jefferson Elementary School Thanksgiving night, according to Richland police.

All but the front of the car remained outside the building, but the inside of the classroom was damaged in the accident, according to police.

The man driving the car lost control while suffering a seizure, according to police. He had been driving east on Van Giesen Street through the George Washington Way intersection about 11:15 p.m. when he hit the school at 1550 George Washinigton Way.

The driver was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with minor injuries.

The Richland School District posted on social media that its maintenance and facilities team were setting up a classroom elsewhere in the Jefferson Elementary building for the class that usually is in the damaged room.

School will be open as normal when students and staff return from their Thanksgiving holiday on Monday, it said.

This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 10:11 AM.