A malfunctioning automated gate at the Main Street Beach upper parking lot caused disabling damage to a vehicle Saturday night, prompting a closure of the lot, which remains blocked as of June 1 and has been personally confirmed by this reporter within the last 30 minutes. The incident occurred at 8:54 p.m. on May 31 and was documented as a private property traffic crash by Vermilion Police.
According to the report, the upper lot gate was open as a second vehicle attempted to exit. Officers observed the gate begin to close, at which point its sensors failed to stop it. The gate continued to move, striking the vehicle through a headlight and causing significant damage. Dunn-Rite Towing was called to assist, and the incident was referred to the city for follow-up.
As of Sunday morning, and continuing through the time of publication, access to the upper lot remains blocked with cones and yellow “crime scene” tape. A photo taken June 1 confirms that both gate arms are still down and entry is visibly restricted. The gate will remain closed until the malfunction can be diagnosed and repaired, according to the Vermilion Police Department. The yellow tape was used to prevent vehicles from passing through and does not indicate a formal crime scene.
As the author of this article and a regular observer of local parks and council meetings, I have personally witnessed multiple issues with this particular gate, including incidents where vehicles became trapped inside the lot. On one occasion, I had to maneuver around the gate while on my bicycle after it began closing without warning.
The gate appears to be programmed to close on a fixed timer, likely around 8:00 p.m., while Main Street Beach itself remains open until dusk, which changes depending on the season. This mismatch in timing has caused confusion and inconvenience for beachgoers who may not realize that the lot could lock behind them.
Recurring gate malfunctions have been mentioned during public city and parks meetings over the past year, based on prior coverage and this reporter’s recollection of those discussions.
While this latest incident is concerning, it’s important to remember that these gates are automated systems, and like any technology, they are prone to malfunction. It may not be a matter of neglect, but rather a difficult technical challenge for city staff to resolve. Based on conversations with the Vermilion Police Department, it appears that those involved are doing their best to manage the situation until a long-term solution can be implemented.
