Police: Charges filed in Meadville Post Office crash

July 08--The driver who crashed a sport utility vehicle into the front doors of the U.S. Post Office in Meadville Wednesday night has been charged by Meadville Police Department.

Brant Granda, 21, of Meadville has been charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and careless driving for hitting two buildings with the Jeep he was driving, according to Michael Tautin, Meadville Police Department's assistant chief.

Granda was driving west on Arch Street when the Jeep went off the street and first hit the Windstream telephone company building along the north side of Arch Street around 8 p.m., Tautin said. The Jeep then continued west on Arch Street, careened back across the street, went off the south side of the street, jumping the curb and driving on the sidewalk before hitting the front doors of the U.S. Post Office at 212 Arch St., Tautin said.

"I don't know how he missed the planters," Tautin said, referring to the large brick flower boxes on the sidewalk near the Post Office's entrance.

Granda was taken to Meadville Medical Center for treatment, Tautin said.

A nursing supervisor said Thursday night that information on Granda's condition wasn't being released. Under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, a patient can request condition information be withheld.

Charges against Granda were filed Thursday by police at Magisterial District Judge Samuel Pendolino's office in Meadville.

Information on what alleged controlled substance Granda was driving under the influence wouldn't be released by police until laboratory test results were returned, Tautin said. Those laboratory test results are expected to take several weeks, Tautin said.

A preliminary hearing in Granda's case is scheduled Sept. 9 before Pendolino, according to online court records.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at [email protected].

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