Almost 23 years ago, a Mercedes Benz crashed through the pressroom wall at the Pittston (Pa.) Sunday Dispatch, damaging part of the press and slightly injuring the driver.
A week ago, a driver crashed his car into almost the same spot, though the old pressroom is now a distribution center for sister paper The Times-Leader, flagship daily of The Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Publishing Co. None of the persons working within 20 feet of the 3:20 AM crash was injured.
Ed Ackerman reported in the Dispatch that the driver was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and taken to an area hospital for treatment of a head injury and a blood-alcohol test.
In September of 1987, Ackerman relates, Dispatch head pressman James "Spot" O'Donnell, "had planned a rare day off to participate in his daughter's wedding," but was called in after the crash. When convinced it was no joke, O'Donnell and son Jim Jr. showed up at the plant, still in his tuxedo and accompanied by son and assistant pressman Jim Jr.
Jim works for the Times Leader; James is retired.
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