Lynn Vietnam War monument toppled

LYNN – An out-of-control car slammed into and toppled the Vietnam War monument in City Hall Square Saturday.Although nobody in the vehicle was injured, the collision damaged the stone edifice.”The monument was dislodged and has fallen over. When the bottom part was knocked by the car, the top fell,” said Mike Sweeney, the city veterans’ affairs officer. “We have a company coming out to take a look at it.”According to Sweeney, the crash occurred approximately a year after a different driver rammed the adjacent monument honoring women who served in the military.”From what I could find out, the crash on Saturday night happened due to the wet ground and there was no alcohol involved. The people refused medical attention,” Sweeney said. “When the driver hit the women’s monument last year, that was a different story.”Sweeney said city officials and insurance adjusters plan to meet with the driver involved in Saturday’s crash. “We just went through this process,” he said. “It basically means we have to contact the driver’s insurance company.”Although the Vietnam War monument is currently on the ground, preparations are under way to repair and erect it.”The monument weighs about 7,000 pounds. It isn’t going anywhere,” Sweeney said.