DUI Driver Smashes through Brick Fence, Home

A driver suspected of driving under the influence was arrested after crashing into a home filled with nine people early Sunday morning in South Pasadena.

According to local police reports, the crash took place at around 2:30 a.m. in the 1700 block of Alhambra Road where 24 year old Veronica Villanueva, a native of Oregon, plowed her minivan through a reinforced brick fence and into the home of Carmen Gillespie, where she and eight others, including seven children were sleeping.

“We heard like a big ‘boom’ sound, almost like an explosion,” said Gillespie. “Everything was shaking, and then all of the sudden I just saw smoke. I just started screaming… It was unbelievable. I still can’t believe it right now. I was just hoping that the car was not going to blow up.”

Fortunately, none of the nine occupants of the house were injured in the crash, though Villanueva was unable to escape unscathed herself. Police and fire crews were called to the scene to sort through the mess and ensure that the vehicle did not in fact blow up. The minivan was eventually pulled from the home but the damage sustained was extensive.

Villanueva was then arrested at the scene and booked into a local jail under suspicion of driving under the influence, where she will await further punishment. Her bail has been set at $5,000.

Interestingly, this was not the first incident of its kind for the house, where steel pillars were installed in the front yard to prevent a collision with the house. Unfortunately, the high speed and force of impact from the minivan was so great that it smashed right through them.

Gillespie told reporters on the scene that her family would stay with relatives while their home was being rebuilt in the coming days.

The minivan driver is lucky to have escaped the situation without causing more serious damage to herself or those inside the house. Driving under the influence of alcohol exposes you and those around you to serious and even fatal accidents.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a crash with a drunk driver, there are legal protections in place to help get you what you need. Through the assistance of an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer, compensation can be recovered from those at fault to help pay for things like medical bills and car repair payments.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we can help lead you through the complicated legal process and get you what you need to make a complete recovery. As always, we will not charge you anything for our services until your case has been won. Call us right away for a free evaluation and to learn about what our accident lawyers can do for you!

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