GRAHAM, Wash. — An elementary school in Graham was open Thursday morning despite a group of suspects using a stolen vehicle to smash into one of the main doors of the building.
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) said deputies responded to Centennial Elementary School for a report of a car that drove into a building just before 5 a.m. Thursday morning.
911 callers said two vehicles were "doing donuts" in the school's parking lot and then the same callers reported hearing a "loud bang." The PCSD said another witness reported seeing a vehicle crash into the school building. Two to three people ran out and got into another white sedan to flee the area, according to the witness.
Deputies arrived and found the vehicle inside the school with the engine running. When deputies contacted the owner of the vehicle, they confirmed it was stolen overnight from their Spanaway home.
Video reviewed by the PCSD showed "young adults or teens" immediately fleeing the school after crashing the vehicle into the front door. The suspects did not steal anything from inside the school building, PCSD said.
The PCSD said the stolen car was towed out of the building and the school was open for students Thursday.
The details are similar to an incident that happened at Bethel High School last month. In that case, a vehicle reported stolen out of Graham was used to smash into the doors of Bethel High just after 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 1.
Anyone with information on the Centennial Elementary crash is asked to call 1-800-222-TIPS.