RIP Magnolia's

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ATHENS, Ga. — The Athens-Clarke Police Department said a driver is dead after their vehicle plowed into a popular bar downtown, resulting in major damage to the building.

Police said the incident occurred at Magnolias Bar, located at the intersection of E. Broad Street and Jackson Street in downtown Athens.

According to police, officers responded to a suicidal male and initiated contact in downtown Athens, but the man fled. Police said officers did not pursue. Later, police said the man's vehicle hit a building on the corner of S. Jackson Street and East Broad Street. According to police, the driver was found dead at the scene.

Police identified the victim as 46-year-old Kevin Cissner. A source tells 11Alive's Cody Alcorn that the victim was an EMS employee in Greene County.

Photos from Athens-Clarke Police show what appears to be a pickup truck inside the bar with debris from the building in the bed of the truck. Part of the building is also gone in the photos.

Athens Police are informing drivers to avoid East Broad Street from Lumpkin Street to Thomas Street and Jackson Street between Clayton Street and South Street and surrounding side streets. The area will be closed for an extended period, but officers did not provide a timeframe for when it will reopen.

"Engineers are working to determine the building's structural integrity," police said.

The bar posted this statement on its Instagram account following the tragic incident:

"We are saddened by the events that occurred early this morning. We are praying for the driver and their family. Please keep the family, Magnolias employees, and any other business affected in your mind during this time.
Thank you to our community for all of this support. We love our Magnolias family?? We will keep everyone updated whenever we know anything else."

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