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Man Killed When Car Crashes Into Building Identified

Posted: 7:13 am PDT September 17, 2008Updated: 2:46 pm PDT September 18, 2008

A man killed when his vehicle smashed into a Gig Harbor building has been identified as Seth Ryan Grigar, said the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Officer.

Grigar, 25, was going between 75 and 100 mph when he struck and passed through the building in the 3100 block of Harborview Drive at about 6:35 a.m. Wednesday, said Ed Troyer of the sheriff's office.

Grigar is from the Gig Harbor area.

VIDEO: SUV Goes Through Building's Front Door
SLIDESHOW: Car Crashes Into Gig Harbor Building

"Witnesses saw him at a high rate of speed, and he did not stop," Troyer said. Police were not pursuing the driver at the time, he said.

"We saw just a flash of a car come by and then we heard a huge crash and the customer was like, 'oh no, he just hit the building'. So, he was going, like, so fast, couldn't even see what kind of car it was," said Melissa Crowley who works at a nearby coffee stand.

The SUV drove through the front of what used to be the Harbor Inn, but is now a gym. There were people inside at the time, but nobody was hit, Troyer said.

Police said they will do a vehicle inspection to find any potential problems that may have caused the crash. They are also waiting for autopsy and toxicology tests.

A dump truck hit the same building back in 1989. The extent of the damage raises concerns for the safety of the building, so firefighters are reinforcing it.

Intersections in the area were closed for the investigation.

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