DETROIT (WWJ) -- A bizarre incident in which a 26-year-old driver crashed his Jeep into a Detroit home leaves that driver hospitalized, the house condemned and perilously braced against collapse and the homeowner in danger of losing everything.
Just after 7 a.m., WWJ's Charlie Langton reported that a vehicle had run into a house on Crane St. and Charlevoix, in the area of Van Dyke and Vernor Highway.
Video Langton filmed at the scene shows DPD officers along with the Detroit Fire Department and rescue crews.
Langton said that the 26-year-old man driving the Jeep was going the wrong way on Charlevoix, which is a one-way street. At Crane St., Charlevoix veers to one side, and it appears the driver did not. Instead, he went through a field before slamming into the house at full force.
According to authorities at the scene, it took about half an hour to extract the young man from his vehicle. He was placed on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital. His injuries were non-fatal, and he is said to be in stable condition.
The force of the impact embedded the Jeep in the southwest corner of the house, cracking the property's foundation and forcing officials to declare the home a "total loss."
By mid-morning, a crew was able to insert two braces to keep the structure from collapsing so the Jeep could safely be removed.
Langton also spoke with the homeowner, David Fisher, at that time. When the crash occurred, Fisher and his girlfriend were inside.
Fisher told Langton that he initially thought there had been a gas explosion because the windows were blown out. He quickly rushed to wake up his girlfriend so they could get outside to safety. Both were shaken, but unharmed.
DTE was onsite after the incident to make sure no further danger was posed by gas lines or electrical wiring.
According to Fisher, the house was purchased from the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Fisher renovated the property, and he and his girlfriend run a homemade candle company out of the home.
Fisher's main concern is whether or not he will be able to rescue his belongings -- especially those essential to his business -- from the structure before it is knocked down.
The homeowner expressed his gratitude that he and his girlfriend were alright and that the driver had survived such a horrific crash.
At this time, the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
This is a developing story. Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates. >>LISTEN LIVE!
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