County to get $241K settlement for hangar

CELINA - Mercer County government will receive a $241,012.38 settlement from the insurance company of the driver whose sport utility vehicle struck an airplane hangar at Lakefield Airport in late January.

County commissioners on Thursday morning agreed to the terms of the release and settlement agreement.

Representatives of the Lakefield Airport Authority Board will likely meet with commissioners in the near future to consider what steps to take next to address the heavily damaged hangar, said Kim Everman, commissioners' office administrator.

A driver on Jan. 24 reportedly lost control of a sport utility vehicle and ended up striking an airplane hangar at 6177 State Route 219, Celina.

The driver reportedly did not suffer injuries but the hangar was badly damaged, leaving two antique airplanes under restoration trapped inside, an airport official said.

The motorist was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer westbound on State Route 219 when he lost control of his vehicle on the snow-covered road. The Trailblazer spun out of control, travelled off the south side of the roadway and struck the hangar according to a Mercer County Sheriff's Office crash report.

The report noted the crash resulted in property damage only. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, reportedly was cited for failure to control.

Airport manager Steve Shinnabery had said the hangar struck by the vehicle is one of the original hangars dating back to the 60s.

The airport is owned by the Mercer County government and governed by a nine-member airport authority board appointed by county commissioners.

Correction:

The county will receive a $241K settlement form the insurance company of the driver whose vehicle struck an airplane hangar at Lakefield Airport in late January.

The original headline has been corrected.