A Greensboro man was behind the wheel of a truck early Monday morning when he fell asleep and drove his car into the Reidsville Confederate Monument at the traffic circle on Scales Street.
According to the Reidsville Police Department, the accident happened at 4:47 a.m. Monday morning. The man told police he was traveling south on North Scales Street, but the last thing he remembers was the intersection of Wentworth and Scales.
The man was traveling in a 35-mile-per-hour zone, doing the speed limit. He told police that he had fallen asleep.
Upon impact, the monument toppled over and the Confederate soldier is now lodged in the man’s vehicle, according to police.
Damages to the statue is estimated to cost $50,000. The man’s vehicle sustained approximately $4,000 in damage.
No citation was issued to the driver.
“This is a very unfortunate incident that occurred in our city this morning,” said Mayor James Festerman. “While the monument has been a significant fixture in our downtown area for 100 years, we also realize that it has invoked strong feelings. Therefore, we plan to proceed cautiously as we determine what actions we will be taking as a result of this incident.”
The statue was placed in downtown Reidsville by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1910. Last June, the UDC held a birthday celebration to mark its 100th year.
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