Athens, Georgia: Driver Killed After Pickup Crashes Into Historic Downtown Building Housing Magnolias Bar

A 46-year-old man died early Wednesday in downtown Athens, Georgia, after his pickup truck crashed into a historic building at the corner of South Jackson and East Broad streets, causing the corner of the building to collapse and exposing the interior on all three floors, Athens-Clarke County police said.

What police say happened

Officers responded at about 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to a report of a possible suicidal person at a downtown hotel, police Lt. Katie Jenkins said, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. An officer located the Ford F-150 and attempted a traffic stop. "The vehicle fled. We did not pursue the vehicle," Jenkins said. The pickup went down Jackson Street, which is a steep decline, then crossed Broad Street and crashed into the building.

Police identified the driver as Kevin Cissner, 46, of Buckhead in Morgan County. He died at the scene. The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash, Jenkins said.

A landmark building, badly damaged

The building dates to 1889, Now Georgia reported. Magnolias Bar is on the ground floor, and Republic Salon is on the third floor. The collision smashed a three-story opening in the building and blocked Broad Street with bricks and debris, WUGA reported. Magnolias said no employees or patrons were injured. The bar is closed indefinitely, and WUGA reported both businesses will remain closed until further notice.

Athens-Clarke County Emergency Management Director Meredith Barnum was at the scene on Wednesday and said city engineers are assessing the stability of the structure. The building has very thick beams of steel and wood, and that prevented an immediate catastrophic collapse, Barnum said, but crews still had to shore up a large hole in the side with steel jacks. "We're just really asking people to stay away from the area while we make sure that it's clean and safe," Barnum said.

Tina Vogt, a hairstylist at Republic Salon, came downtown after coworkers shared photos of the damage in a work group chat. "It's a disaster," Vogt told WUGA.

Police Chief Jerry Saulters was also at the scene and said a company was coming in to shore up the building. "Until then the road will be closed for the safety of the public," Saulters said, according to the Banner-Herald. "It's going to cause a nightmare for traffic."

Roads closed for an extended period

East Broad Street is closed from Lumpkin Street to Thomas Street, and Jackson Street is closed between Clayton Street and South Street, Now Georgia reported. Police said both stretches will remain closed until engineers complete their structural evaluation, and they asked drivers to avoid East Broad Street between Lumpkin and Thomas, along with surrounding side streets, while investigators work at the scene.

The crash is the eleventh fatal crash of 2026 in Athens-Clarke County, WUGA reported.