Greater Indy Red Cross assessing damage to headquarters building after early morning crash

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis headquarters building is open for business after an SUV crashed into the north side of the structure at 441 E. 10th Street early Wednesday morning.

"First and foremost, we are grateful that no one was in the building at the time," said John Lyter, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis. "We also feel fortunate that it affected only one room—the waiting room in our emergency services department."

On any given weekday, the room could have been filled with families affected by home fires and other disasters or military families waiting to speak with emergency services caseworkers.

While experts are still evaluating the structure, there doesn't appear to be any damage to the electrical, HVAC or other systems. "Neither of the offices adjacent to the waiting room was affected," Lyter added, "the impact didn't even knock the pictures off the walls."

The American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis serves Blackford, Boone, Clinton, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Jay, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Randolph, Rush and Shelby counties.