Engineers have determined that Grandview High School in the Cherry Creek School District sustained no structural damage after a man drove a large SUV into the school late Sunday, spokeswoman Tustin Amole said today. Classes will resume Tuesday.
No classes were held today because of concern that the SUV had structurally damaged the facility, said Amole. However, a review of the situation today showed that the damage was only architectural and not more pronounced.
Damaged were two double doors, which the driver drove through, plus several interior windows, a wall, two brick pillars, and two metal benches in a hallway.
A dollar loss has yet to be determined, said Amole.
The doors were located near the school’s cafeteria. The driver drove up a walkway leading to the doors.
Aurora police said the 21-year-old driver, who was trying to kill himself, received minor injuries.
He had been at Parker Adventist Hospital on a mental-health hold but was released this afternoon and taken to the Arapahoe County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail, said Bob Friel, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department.
Friel said the man, who was driving a 2000 GMC Yukon when he rammed the school, has been charged with criminal mischief, a Class 3 felony.
Police have determined that he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident. The man’s 21st birthday was on Oct. 8, three days before the incident.
Amole said there was a maintenance worker on an upper floor of the high school when the motorist drove into the school.
She said the driver was not a former Grandview High School student but did live within sight of the school.
The school maintenance man, police and firefighters all reached the vehicle, wedged in a counselor’s office and hallway, at about the same time.
Amole said the 21-year-old was still in the vehicle when rescuers arrived. He was not trapped in the SUV but remained inside in the moments after the crash, she said.
Although classes were canceled today, other activities — such as sports and clubs — are still being held this afternoon.
Grandview High School has 2,658 students in grades nine through 12 and is located at 20500 E. Arapahoe Road.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
