ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The Robertsdale Church of God of Prophecy was struck by a vehicle on Friday, Feb. 5. The church is located at 23425 Cowling Road, just off U.S. Highway 90.

The sanctuary suffered damage, with pieces of wallboard and insulation scattered over the altar area. One wall near a door bulged from the hit. A set of steps up to the altar was damaged. No one was injured in the accident.

It could have been much worse.

“We had 31 kids in the day care,” said Rebecca Boyington, the Day Care Director.

Fortunately, the church’s day care is on the other side of the building.

“It happened at nap time,” said Boyington. “Nap time” at the day care begins around 1:30 p.m.

“We did not hear anything,” said Dot Morgan, a worker at the day care. “A phone call came from across the street, and the lady said, ‘someone has hit your building.’”

The Robertsdale Police Department responded, Boyington said, and soon after the church got a call that an SUV was stopped a short distance from the accident and the driver was in custody.

“What we know is that he came off Highway 90,” said Morgan. The church is on a street off Highway 90 and down a small hill from the street. The area of the building that was struck is at a sharp angle from the street.

Robertsdale Police arrested Jason Haynie of Gulf Shores. Because there was no eyewitness testimony linking Haynie with the accident, he cannot be charged with damaging the church. However, his white 1997 GMC Yukon had damage matching the damage to the building.

Haynie was charged with illegal possession of prescription drugs and carrying a pistol without a permit.

“We have out insurance people coming (to look at the damage) Monday,” said Boyington.