Suspected DUI Crash Launches Light Pole Into Occupied Santa Clara Living Room
SANTA CLARA (CBS SF) – A SUV careened out of control into a Santa Clara home late Thursday, hurling a light pole through a wall and into the living room, narrowly missing the residents, authorities and the homeowner said.
Lt. Dan Moreno of the Santa Clara Police Department said the driver of the SUV – identified as 21-year-old local resident Francisco Cortezcruz – had been taken into custody on felony DUI and hit-and-run charges.
Authorities said they got a call at about 10:36 p.m. Thursday reporting a crash between two vehicles at the corner of Lewis and Lafayette in Santa Clara.
Arriving police and firefighters discovered a damaged car in the street and the SUV crashed into the home.
"You could hear brakes screeching," said Matt LaPlaca, who was visiting the home. "Then all of a sudden there was a crash."
The light pole crashed through the wall near where LaPlaca was in the living room along with his friend Patrick Paul and Paul's family.
The force of the impact buckled the wall and sent glass flying all over the room. LaPlaca and Paul both suffered cuts that required treatment at a local hospital.
"It's amazing that everyone was able to walk away," said Paul who was in the home with his wife and 5-year-old son.
Occupants of the SUV also received minor injuries, but were treated at the scene.
The crash remained under investigation.
