Officers retrieve, fold tattered American flag from van that slammed into building

CHARLOTTE — One person was rushed to the hospital early Thursday after crashing a van into a northwest Charlotte business.

When Channel 9 crews got to the scene just after midnight, the van was completely inside the Starmount healthcare building on Triangle Drive, near the intersection of Tuckaseegee Drive and Freedom Drive.

Debris and bricks from the building were scattered all around and the airbags had been deployed in the van. Paramedics said the driver was seriously hurt. No one was inside the building.

Officers retrieve American flag after van slams into building CMPD officers retrieve an American flag that was tangled in the hood of a damaged van after the vehicle slammed into a building. (WSOC)

As the van was being towed away, police noticed that an American flag was tangled in the damaged front end of the van.

A group of officers carefully removed the tattered flag and then properly folded it up.

Inside the building, several computers were destroyed that workers used to enter sensitive COVID-19 data.

“This was our main data entry and resulting for all of our Covid testing,” said Mike Estromeonte, Starmount CEO.

StarMed Medical Group conducts COVID-19 testing across the street under tents.

Incredible video shows the moment a driver crashed into a medical clinic in NW Charlotte this morning. The building housed sensitive covid data including test results. The changes they’ve made to keep things running & the latest on the driver on @wsoctv starting at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/Gb8RXbuDtB
— Anthony Kustura (@AnthonyWSOC9) August 20, 2020

The group recently received a contract with the state department of health to set up seven other testing sites across Mecklenburg County and neighboring counties.

Employees used the building as a hub to enter sensitive information, such as names, addresses and medical history and to determine COVID-19 results.

“(It’s) amazing the amount of damage that occurred inside the building,” Estromeonte said.

Employees worked quickly to move their operation to a nearby building to continue testing and data logging.

Police are investigating but have not yet said what led to the crash.

After the driver was taken to the hospital, three of my officers respectfully folded an American Flag damaged during the wreck.

I couldn’t be more proud of the respect our officers have for our flag. This is what policing stands for.

Video courtesy of @wsoctv. pic.twitter.com/PLo8L5qoac
— Chief Jennings (@cmpdchief) August 20, 2020