Troopers with the North Carolina Highway Patrol say a hit-and-run driver caused the damage that closed the Erwin office of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles where people could obtain and renew their licenses to drive.The once heavily-used building is now closed until further notice.
A spokesperson with the Harnett County office of the Highway Patrol said troopers were notified by NCDMV employees about the damage shortly after they arrived at work around 8:30 a.m. Monday. Troopers determined that a car had hit the building and caused the damage. It is not known when the wreck happened and before authorities could be notified the driver had left the scene.
A fire marshal determined the foundation of the building had been separated from the main wall, leaving the building unsafe, according to a release from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The incident is still under investigation.
Workers were at the license office Tuesday, repairing a wall on the building’s east side.
It is unclear when repairs will be completed or when the building will be safe to occupy.
Until then, customers can visit the driver’s license office in Lillington or one of the following nearby locations: South Fayetteville, 2439 Gillespie St.; Stedman, 4705 Clinton Road; Fuquay-Varina, Municipal Building, 131 S. Fuquay Ave.; and Smithfield, 3783 U.S. Highway 301 S.
Customers are also reminded some driver license services, such as license renewals, ordering a duplicate license or ID card, and a change of address, are available online on the NCDMV website.
-DUNN DAILY RECORD
