The College Avenue Parking Deck will remain closed until Wednesday afternoon due to a Tuesday morning car fire.
Battalion Chief Jeff Reno said the accident was still under investigation, but that the fire was supposedly caused by a driver hitting an interior wall of the parking deck.
According to Reno, the driver stated that she accelerated instead of braking, which caused the collision with the wall.
There were no injuries as a result of the accident, and minimal damage to the structure itself.
Two other vehicles sustained some damage from the fire, one described as “substantial” and the other “minimal.”
The deck was deemed safe for use by the Athens-Clarke County Building Permits and Inspections Department. Businesses and offices on the ground floor of the deck have since been reopened.
Some sections of parking on the fourth and fifth floor will still be closed after the deck reopens for further evaluation, cleanup and possible repairs.
The College Avenue Parking Deck is owned by the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGOV) and managed by the Downtown Athens Parking System (DAPS). For more information about other options parking during the deck closure, contact DAPS at 706-613-7978.