AGAIN?! 2nd Car Goes Through Clay Ray Vets Roof

In a stunning and nearly identical repeat of a February crash, a second vehicle launched into the Clay-Ray Veterans Memorial Hall Wednesday morning, crashing into the same section of the roof that had only recently been replaced.

The incident occurred shortly before 7:22 am, drawing an immediate response from the Excelsior Springs Fire Department and other emergency personnel. Witnesses at the scene reported that the vehicle landed on the roof above the building’s kitchen—the same area that was heavily damaged when a car crashed into the structure during a high-speed police chase earlier this year.

Remarkably, the driver of today’s crash was uninjured and seen walking around at the scene, according to first responders.

The cause of today’s crash is under investigation. The car did not go all the way through the roof and landed over the bar side of the building, not the kitchen like the last incident. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the driver or any additional details about how the vehicle came to leave the roadway. The engine of the vehicle flew out of the car and landed in the east side of the building next to the flag pole.

Construction on the veterans hall has only recently resumed following the February 15 crash, which involved a registered sex offender fleeing from police with two 13-year-old girls in his vehicle. That earlier incident caused significant structural damage, forcing the closure of the building, the cancellation of licensed bingo nights, and the launch of a local fundraising effort.

The Clay-Ray Vets Club, which oversees the building, had just begun efforts to rebuild and restore the hall. They had planned to open the hall again in the next few weeks.

Officials with the Clay-Ray Vets Club have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the latest incident, but further updates are expected as the situation develops.

Commander for the Sons of the American Legion Brock Stout was on the scene. His reaction was “this is unbelievable and sets us back to square one to start the whole process again.”

This is a developing story. The Excelsior Citizen will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.