A wild wake up call for a family in a South Pasadena neighborhood when a woman suspected of drunk driving plowed through the front door of their home. A little after 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, the family was awoken by a massive boom where the van hit the house after the driver failed to negotiate a turn. According to NBC LA, no one was hurt but the impact was so strong the minivan went halfway into their living room.
“The cabinet in kitchen got smashed in that’s how hard impact was,” said Gillespie. The driver, identified as 24-year old Veronica Villanueva of Rosemead, was booked into custody on a drunken driving charge, police said. The crash happened at 2:23 a.m. when Villanueva was driving north on Raymond Avenue. She failed to negotiate a turn onto Alhambra Road, jumped the curb and crashed into the home, officials said. Nine people were inside. No one was hurt.
These types of car accidents seem to happen more frequently than in the past. People driving under the influence, reckless or going too fast end up in people’s backyards, sidewalls, even swimming pools.
Fortunately no one was injured in this case but with nine residents inside it could have been a terrible tragedy for this family.
Drunk driving is suspected in this case and the family will no doubt be filing an insurance claim with their homeowner’s coverage. The woman, if found negligent could be responsible for repaying the cost of the damage to the home. The family may have to seek out a personal injury attorney to help them recover monetary damages.
Pictured, fire fighters remove a minivan that went through a Pasadena home while the family slept inside. (image courtesy of NBC LA).
SLS Consulting