Prairie, MS : No injuries after Car crashes into Prairie church on Wednesday night, Nov 11, 2015

A single-vehicle accident Wednesday night is under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol after the driver crashed into Prairie United Methodist Church.

According to Prairie-Darracott Volunteer Fire Department Chief Carl Stahl, the vehicle was fully involved when his department arrived. Prairie-Darracott VFD and Cedar Creek VFD battled the fire for 50 minutes until it was completely extinguished.

MHP received the accident call at 7:50 p.m.

According to Stahl, one of the neighbors pushed the 2014 Toyota Camry away from the church with his tractor.

According to MHP spokesman Criss Turnipseed, the car’s driver, Robert Raines Jr., 19, of Okolona, told troopers that he swerved to miss a dog that ran out in front of him. The passenger, 19-year-old Tracy Baskins of Okolona, was admitted to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for moderate injuries.

Two stained glass windows originally from another town that were older than Prairie UMC were broken out, bricks were knocked off the side of the building, and the inside of the church sustained smoke damage.

Turnipseed said no traces of alcohol were evident, and he does not expect any charges at this time.

Source :

Car crashes into Prairie church