A Sacred Heart of Jesus statue outside St. Joseph Catholic School in Imperial was knocked off its base and broken on Monday (Dec. 14), church officials reported.
Surveillance footage shows a tractor-trailer enter the church’s parking lot, 6024 Old Antonia Road, at about 11:30 p.m. and then, while attempting to navigate a traffic circle in front of the school, knock over the statue, said Kathy Larson, St. Joseph’s director of parish advancement.
She said it appears the driver reported the accident because Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars responded to the accident.
“When they came in, they turned around the small traffic circle where the statute is on an island in the middle near the school. They couldn’t navigate that turn,” Larson said. “When we looked closely, we saw a deputy was there and some Sheriff’s vehicle. Since they know who did it and there is a police report, I’m sure that company will be responsible for it.”
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said a deputy did respond to the scene of the accident.
Larson said the 5-foot statue was damaged near its base, and Jesus’s hands were broken off his outstretched arms.
She said the statue can be repaired, but as of Tuesday (Dec. 15), the parish did not know how much the repairs would cost.
“Other than (the damage done to the base and the broken hands), the statue is relatively intact,” Larson said. “There is a lot of chipping and broken pieces at the base, which is his robe.”