A late-night crash into a south Barrie house has left a local family thankful the damage to their home wasn’t more severe — and grateful no one was hurt.
A 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with impaired driving after he drove his vehicle into a house in Barrie’s southeast end Thursday night.
On Dec. 19 at 11:33 p.m., officers responded to the collision call on Birkhall Place, not far from Mapleview Drive east of Yonge Street.
The home suffered significant damage to the garage, however no injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
According to the homeowner, Kim Matheson, the driver of the vehicle was travelling down their street and then drove across the yard into the side of their garage.
“They attempted to reverse, but it wasn't possible,” she said. “So they then knocked on our door to notify us of what had happened, and we called 911."
Both Matheson and her husband were asleep at the time of the crash.
“My husband felt (the crash), and then what we heard was the running of the engine over and over, trying to reverse backward,” she said.
“I have a lot of empathy for the family of the boy,” Matheson added. “I don't think that it's easy for a mom to see her son handcuffed and carried away by the police.”
She is also grateful that no one was hurt in the collision.
“I’m hopeful that a lesson is learned for all of the children on the street, as well as the individual involved,” Matheson added, as she believes the individual who was charged lives in the neighbourhood.
The family has opened a claim with their insurance company.
“They've come by to have a quick look, and they need to then come and shore things up and then they’ll do a more thorough assessment of the implications,” Matheson added.
There is no estimate yet of the dollar value of the damage.
Matheson thanked the police who responded to the call.
“They responded quickly, were efficient and very respectful. We probably don’t thank our first responders enough,” she added.
The accused in the collision is scheduled to appear in a Barrie courthouse in January.
