MERIDEN -- A Meriden family is feeling grateful that no one inside their home was hurt when a man police say was driving under the influence of drugs slammed into their home shortly after 5 p.m. Monday evening.
Cell phone video shows the moments after the accident at 133 Brittania Street.
“I actually heard a loud crash when he hit the first pole and then I immediately ran to the end of the corner and I seen him roll up the hill, hit the porch, and then reverse and then total the car behind him,” said Joseph Torres.
The 20-year-old recalled the chaotic scene when police said a man high on heroin came around the corner of Warren Street, hit a utility pole and slammed into the front of the home on Brittania Street.
Torres lives in the house with his girlfriend’s family, including his girlfriend’s sister, 23-year-old Amurah Stringer.
“I can’t believe that he did something like that and not only that but he kept going, he kept hitting the house,” Stringer said.
“Even after that he kept on trying to drive and I seen him trying to drive so as soon as I seen him at a stop I opened his door and I immediately removed the suspect from his car,” Torres said.
Afterwards Torres and Stringer said the suspect tried to flee the scene with a passenger.
“They just got out the car,” Stringer said. “The other guy got out the car and just tried to walk away. But the neighborhood stopped him.”
None of the nine children or teens in the living at the time of the crash were injured including, a new born baby, who was just inches away from the point of impact.
“So the hill kind of kept it from coming all the way up or from him crashing straight through the house,” Stringer said.
The porch, front steps, lawn and front railing were all damaged.
“They’re doing an inspection to determine whether or not its safe or not for us to be here,” Stringer said.
“The destruction over there is terrible," said neighbor Dorothy Isola, who is worried about her and her grandchildren's safety. "They're not allowed out here for any reason. We’re always in the back.”
In the meantime, the family living in the damaged Britannia Street home is counting their lucky stars that it wasn’t worse.
I’m so glad I was outside,” Torres said.
I’m so thankful that it didn’t go through,” Stringer said.
Torres tells FOX 61 News police told him the driver of the car didn’t have proper documentation including, insurance or registration, at the time of the accident.
The family says they’ll be without power until the utility pole is repaired.
Witnesses tell Fox 61 News the driver has been taken into police custody.