Pacific Grove Police reported on June 5, 2021, at approximately 1:04am, a vehicle collision occurred at 2100 Sunset Dr., the City of Pacific Grove Public Works Yard and damaged the main office building of the Public Works Department.

A vehicle traveling southbound on Grove Acre Ave. left the roadway after crossing Sunset Dr. The vehicle struck the curb and continued to travel south crashing through the Public Works chain link fence and collided with the Public Works building. The collision caused the vehicle and building to become engulfed in flames. The fire caused major damage to the building and destroyed the vehicle. 

According to Dan Gho, Pacific Grove Public Works Director, who surveyed the scene Saturday morning “The building looks to be a total loss.” He said “The chain-link fence was wrapped around the vehicle as it struck the building, and had to be cut away afterwards to free the vehicle.” He added that his department would continue to operate but many archival files were lost in the flames.

The driver who perished in the collision was the only occupant in the vehicle and has not been identified pending notifications by the Coroner’s Office. The Monterey Fire Department extinguished the fire. The Monterey County Coroner responded to the scene and removed the deceased. 

The Pacific Grove Police Department will be conducting the collision investigation. The vehicle involved in the crash was a late model Ford Ranger pickup, possibly gray or green in color. Anyone having information regarding the incident may contact the Pacific Grove Department at 831-648-3143 

The vehicle struck the building just left of center in the photo below.

Flames caused extensive damage to the interior of the building.

Gary Baley