A Pickup Crashed Into Downtown Bar in Athens, GA. The Driver Died
Updated On: November 5, 2026
A pickup crashed into Magnolias Bar in downtown Athens, GA, partly collapsing the 140-year-old building. The driver died.
Early Wednesday, a pickup truck slammed into Magnolias Bar of Athens at East Broad and Jackson streets in downtown Athens, Georgia, partly collapsing the historic building. The driver died at the scene. Police have reported no other deaths.
According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, officers were sent to check on 46-year-old Kevin Cissner of Buckhead, a small Morgan County town about 35 miles south of Athens. Police said friends told officers he was having suicidal thoughts. Officers found his vehicle on North Jackson Street, and he drove away. Police say they did not chase him. About two blocks later, the truck hit the building that houses Magnolias and, upstairs, Republic Salon. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating.
Republic Salon confirmed everyone there was safe. Engineers assessed the building’s structure, and East Broad and Jackson streets were closed for an extended period. Athens Transit detoured buses away from the Arch.
A Building With a Long History
The structure is more than 140 years old. It opened in the 1880s as the Athens Opera House, became the Tasty World music venue in the late 1990s, and has housed Magnolias since 2009. Owner Murphy Wolford, who has run a business there since the late 1990s, said he hopes the bar will reopen. Historic Athens says a steel frame installed in 1997 makes restoration possible. A GoFundMe has been set up for the bar and its staff. In a statement, Magnolias said it was “praying for the driver and their family.”
What We Don’t Know
Police haven’t said what caused the crash beyond their account of the preceding events, and the State Patrol’s findings aren’t in. Details like speed and the truck’s path haven’t been released.
Who Pays When a Vehicle Hits a Building?
The answer depends on the policies involved, and nothing has been determined here. Commercial property policies generally cover vehicle damage, so a building owner’s insurer typically pays first and may then seek recovery from the driver’s liability insurance or estate. But Georgia’s minimum property damage liability is only $25,000 per accident, which could be a small fraction of the loss from a partial collapse. Liability policies also commonly exclude intentional harm, so what investigators conclude could affect that coverage.
Businesses hurt by the closure may also have options. Business interruption coverage can pay for lost income while repairs are made, and “civil authority” coverage may apply when a government-ordered closure blocks access to neighboring businesses, depending on policy wording. Tenants, employees, and neighbors should document losses and notify their insurers promptly.
How Common Are These Crashes?
More common than most people think. The Storefront Safety Council, a volunteer advocacy group, estimates about 60 vehicle-into-building crashes a day in the U.S., with up to 500 deaths and 4,000 serious injuries a year. Because no government agency tracks these crashes consistently, those figures are estimates.
Our condolences go to Mr. Cissner’s family and friends, and to the Magnolias staff and everyone in the Athens community affected. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If a vehicle has damaged your home or business, the independent attorneys we connect you with can help you understand who may be responsible and what coverage may apply.
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