A van crashed into an InTown Suite extended-stay hotel Wednesday afternoon on Lee Highway. Photo provided by the Chattanooga Fire Department. Crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department are working to secure a building on Lee Highway after a vehicle crashed into its lower level Wednesday afternoon.
The incident happened around 3 p.m. at the InTown Suites extended-stay hotel, at 5730 Lee Highway, after a nearby crash caused a van to leave the road, sending it into the hotel's parking lot, according to a news release from the fire department. It then crashed into a parked SUV and into two hotel rooms.
Both rooms were empty at the time, the release states. Twelve surrounding rooms were evacuated as a precaution.
Three people involved in the initial crash were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One cat was safely retrieved from one of the rooms.
With no injuries in the hotel, firefighters have turned their attention toward securing the building and preventing further damage, the release states.
CARTA is providing a bus to keep residents of the extended-stay hotel cool as crews work the scene, the release states. The Red Cross has been notified, along with building inspectors.