ATHENS, Ga. — A 46-year-old man died Wednesday morning after his vehicle struck Magnolias Athens, causing a partial collapse of the downtown bar’s historic building. Police say two stretches of road will remain closed for an extended period while engineers assess the damage.
Athens-Clarke County police said officers responded around 7:20 a.m. on Nov. 4 to a report of a suicidal man. Officers located his vehicle near North Jackson Street and made contact with him. Police said he drove away and officers did not pursue him. His vehicle struck the building at Jackson and East Broad streets.
Police identified the driver as Kevin Cissner of Buckhead, Georgia. He died at the scene. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash.
East Broad Street is closed from Lumpkin Street to Thomas Street, and Jackson Street is closed between Clayton Street and South Street. Police said both stretches will remain closed until engineers complete their structural evaluation.
Magnolias Athens said no employees or patrons were injured. The bar, which occupies a building dating to 1889, is closed indefinitely. It launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for emergency stabilization and reconstruction and to support employees whose work was interrupted by the closure.
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