Driver crashes into La Pine temporary library after falling asleep

Published 5:08 pm Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A man who fell asleep while driving Wednesday morning crashed through the wall of La Pine’s temporary library.

No one was injured in the crash at the John C. Johnson building on First Street, but the library will be closed indefinitely.

Paul Nathaniel Carter, 52, of La Pine, was cited Wednesday on suspicion of driving with a suspended license and careless driving, according to a press release from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Deschutes County deputies responded to the crash at 10:18 a.m. Witnesses said the driver did not appear to be injured but couldn’t get out of his sedan. Authorities determined Carter was not intoxicated prior to the crash.

Robert Guzzo, business services manager for the Deschutes Public Library system, went to the library on Wednesday and said the crash left “a car-sized hole in the side of the building.” He couldn’t elaborate further on details of the damages.

“It’s certainly not an outcome that anybody wanted,” he said.

Chantal Strobel, a communications and development manager for the Deschutes Public Library system, said two people were inside the library when the car came barreling through the wall. Strobel said one of the employees was about 10 feet away from where the car crashed. Strobel said the employees are taking time off because of the incident.

“We’re very, very grateful that no one was harmed,” Strobel said.

The temporary library has been available for community members while a local library is constructed as a result of a bond voters passed in 2020. It was housed by La Pine Park and Recreation District, which is now assessing whether the building can be recovered and if staff can go back inside.

Strobel said it’s unclear whether the building will be reopened before the new library opens in October. She added that the library is unsure about the condition of its book collection.

Meanwhile, Stobel said the library encourages the public to go to the Sunriver Area Public Library, where some books will be transferred. People with checked-out books won’t incur late fees.