Editor's note: This story was updated with new reporting at 3:50 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2025.

A car crash in Ashmont Hill has caused major disruptions to a longtime early childhood education center for kids 2-5 years-old on Washington Street. The driver, a 53-year-old Dorchester man, was arrested at the scene last night and faces numerous charges, including illegal gun and drug possession, according to Boston Police.

The car careened into the Ashmont Nursery School (ANS) at the corner of Washington Street and Ashmont Street around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, causing significant damage to the building and leaving the school closed.

At least one person was inside the building when the car crashed into it, but was not injured, according to sources familiar with the incident.

Boston Police who responded to the scene "observed significant damage to both the building and the vehicle," according to a BPD account.

"A dislodged water pipe was spraying water throughout the interior of the building. As they approached the vehicle, they saw the driver, later identified as Ronnie Qualls, still inside and immediately requested EMS via radio. Officers also located witnesses and victims who had been inside the building at the time of the crash. Fortunately, none of them sustained injuries."

Police say that based on his odd behavior, they suspected Qualls "might be armed and initiated an investigation" and found :a.45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with six rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber" in the vehicle's console.

The police report also says Qualls was found to be carrying "crack cocaine and cocaine" and "did not have a valid driver’s license."

While Qualls awaits arraignment, the school's leaders and parents have already begun looking for a temporary location to house the school and resume classes for the kids.

It is not yet clear just how long the building might be closed for repairs, but building owner Michael Stella believes a re-opening could happen sooner than originally thought.

“Luckily, [there’s] no structural damage which is great for a couple of reasons,” said Stella, co-founder and principal of Star Contracting Company. “One is it would have been displacement of the tenants upstairs and, second, it should be far easier to make the repairs not having to get into structural work.”

He added, “Looking at it from a contractor’s point of view it’s probably two weeks' worth of work but with potential staggering of time for an electrician and a plumber to do their work and get it inspected, those sort of logistics. It might be a little bit longer, but I don’t envision it will be in terms of months rather than weeks.”

The main damage was done to the nursery’s kitchen area. According to Stella, “The sink and cabinet area was pushed four or five feet into that space by the impact.” And though the result could have been far worse, the existing damages mean the school cannot operate in the space until it is repaired.

“The [ANS] president reached out to the parents last night through WhatsApp and put out information to let them know what happened,” said school director Edna Speller. “We’re looking around different locations that we can use temporarily, and a lot of people have reached out trying to help find places for us to go.”

Speller has worked at ANS for the last 28 years and is reminded every day that it’s a special place to be. The school however is a licensed non-profit, non-sectarian, co-op meaning repairs will heavily rely on donations.

Right now, her main priority is ensuring all 17 students of her students are taken care of. The school hiatus will be especially difficult for families who do not have alternative care options.

“My first thought was pretty much everyone who sends their kids to ANS, there’s at least one, if not two working parents,” said Miriam Fine who attended the preschool in the early 90s. “To be without childcare is hugely disruptive.”

In addition to being an ANS alum, Fine sent her daughter to the preschool in 2022 and was an active member of the executive committee last school year. Like Speller, she believes ANS has been an integral part of her life and does not want to see it close for good.

“My parents were involved in the school, I was involved, my daughter, and I know I’m not the only person that knows the impact of the school,” Fine told The Reporter. “I really hope this is not going to be a situation that puts the school under. It survived Covid, it’s survived a long time. This is terrible, but hopefully, there will be enough resources to bring it back.”

When ANS does re-open, many feel more safety precautions need to be put in place on the roadway outside. Stella was happy to see the recent addition of pedestrian signs and a greater police presence around school dismissal times, but thinks more can still be done.

“There’s been two accidents in the last 2 or 3 months and I truly believe there needs to be a light signal there so that there’s a forced stop,” said Stella. “There needs to be an active signal so that people crossing can push for a light.”

Speller agreed ,saying, “I think they need to put a traffic light right here by the school and corner store to make it a little bit safer.”

Fine added that another solution could be speed bumps.

“I definitely think putting in speed bumps is a good idea. It's not just ANS. There is a whole school [Tech Academy] right around the corner. There are a lot of kids in the area so really there should be a lot of speedbumps. People love to book it down Ashmont and Washington Street.”

Meanwhile, ANS is still looking for an interim space. One board member asked if anyone has unused space that might house the school temporarily to email president@ashmontnurseryschool.com.

Reporter editor Bill Forry contributed reporting to this story.