FEBRUARY 27, 2015
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA (AP)
One person was killed after a minivan slammed into a house
in a Chesterfield neighborhood Thursday evening.
The minivan was traveling west on Robious Riad when it
veered off the road and hit a snow bank at a high speed, police said.
The van went airborne and plowed through a home in the 1700
block of Greenfield Drive around 6 p.m. The homeowner was killed.
Fire investigators do not know if the victim died when he
was struck by the minivan or when part of the home collapsed. Two
neighbors, who were in their backyards at the time of the crash, heard the
impact.
“We heard revving engine, a big loud screech and a big
crash. We saw smoke coming out of the yard,” neighbor Jeff Duncan said.
Duncan said when he reached his neighbor’s backyard, he
spotted the female passenger motioning for help.
“She thought the gentleman who was driving the car was
having a stroke and his foot got caught on the accelerator,” Duncan said. “They
went across a lane of traffic and into the guy’s house.”
Jay Pettit, another neighbor who rushed in to help, was
saddened by what he saw.
“We saw half of the house was missing and there was a car in
the backyard,” Pettit said. “Imagine just being in your home and the something
like this happens. It’s a horrible thing.”
Chesterfield Fire and EMS spokesman Lt. Jason Elmore said
that the driver and passenger were transported to area hospitals with what were
described as minor injuries.
Crews worked late Thursday to shore up and reinforce the
house so investigators could gain access.
“We’re making it as secure as possible for us to be able to
get in there as part of the investigation as well as to remove the resident
from the home,” Elmore said.
Wreckage from the tragedy was strewn around the victim’s
backyard.
“It completely destroyed the man’s kitchen. There were
appliances in the backyard,” Duncan said. “It collapsed the man’s back porch.
It’s a good amount of damage to the house.”
Police have not released the identity of the victim.