DOUGLAS, Mich. - The Blue Star Motel received an unexpected guest after an alleged drunk driver crashed her car through the wall of one of the rooms. Rusty Ross, the general manager for the motel located at 167 Blue Star Hwy., told FOX 17 a vehicle came through the door of a hotel room on Sunday. Ross understands nobody was hurt, because the tenants in the room left before the vehicle came through their front door.
"Luckily the people who were here had left ten minutes prior to go swim," said Ross.
The 41-year-old female driver was arrested and taken to the hospital for injuries after blowing a .26 blood alcohol content, more than three times the legal limit.
Motel employees tell FOX 17 the woman claims her flip flop got caught behind the gas pedal, leading to the crash. However, witnesses report seeing an open container of alcohol inside the woman's vehicle.
"She didn't even ask if anyone was in there, so clearly she didn't know what was going on," said Ross.
Roughly 18 guests staying at the motel Sunday evening were forced to evacuate to a sister motel, the Starlite Resort in Saugatuck.
With summer winding down, Ross is worried the accident is taking away big business just weeks out from Labor Day.
"It's definitely gonna put a hurt on us," said Ross. "It's a loss of revenue and we’re hoping to get it back up and running in the next two weeks."
There's no estimated cost for repairs, but Ross is hopeful they'll wrap up before the summer is over. Now, it's back to business for the Blue Star Motel after being given the all-clear by a structural engineer, with seven of the nine rooms opened the day after the accident.
"I'm just thankful that nobody got hurt and that we had the availability to get them out of here, because when my guests stay here, they're my priority," said Ross.
