Santa Rosa Boy Survives After Truck Slams Into His Bedroom
SANTA ROSA (KPIX 5) – An 11-year-old Santa Rosa boy is fortunate to be alive, after an out-of-control truck plowed into his bedroom early Monday morning.
Donald Marlatt had always an easy way to direct people to his home, "Turn left on Sacramento. And if you wouldn't stop, you'd end up in my son's bedroom," he said
On that morning, someone didn't stop as a truck plowed right into the wall of Liam Fitzsimmons' bedroom.
"The truck hit it and launched Liam, split his bed in half, launched him out of his bed," Marlatt recalled. "Shot him through his closet door and the hole in the closet is where his torso went through the wall."
Liam recalled the crash, telling KPIX 5, "I think when I slammed into the closet…there's this big scratch on my back the size of a baseball."
Miraculously, Liam suffered only that and a scratch on his foot and leg and was even back at school Tuesday. But he is shaken and his father has suggested putting boulders in the driveway in front of his room.
The driver of the truck ran away, but later police arrested 23-year-old Timothy Charles Bendana, who lives a couple blocks away. Investigators said they found marijuana and a hash lab in his home. But Marlatt says God protected his family and he is remarkably forgiving to the man who nearly killed his son.
"I just hope he finds some sobriety and some recovery and changes his life. You know, everyone deserves a second chance," Marlatt said.
Marlatt may be a man of faith. But just the same, the next time you ask for directions to his house, don't be surprised if he tells you to use your GPS.
The driver faces three felony charges, including hit and run. He is being held at the Sonoma County Jail on $100,000 bail.
