A Hampton woman who drove her car into a hotel building on Richmond Road on Monday is facing a single charge of reckless driving, police said Wednesday.
Maj. Greg Riley of the Williamsburg Police Department said 41-year-old Ann-Margaret Bethea was pulling out of the drive-thru at the Dunkin Donuts across the street from the hotel, a Westgate Resorts property. She lost control of the vehicle and ended up driving into a two-story building at the front of the hotel complex, where it eventually came to a stop once it was inside the building.
Bethea was taken to the hospital for treatment for non life-threatening injuries. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor, Riley said.
An unknown amount of people were inside the building when the incident occurred, however none of them was hurt. On Monday night, Williamsburg Fire Department Spokesperson Eric Stone said seven people were displaced from the incident, however Westgate Resorts is taking care of them.
Stone said special equipment had to be brought in to stabilize the building before first responders from his department could extricate Bethea from her car.
The building sustained “severe damage” to its front right corner, said Matt Westheimer the Codes Compliance Administrator for the City of Williamsburg who came and inspected the building following the incident. He said there are portions of the building that are not structurally sound following the incident. It has been taped off with caution tape to warn the public that it poses a hazard to their safety.
