MARCH 27, 2015
SUN VALLEY, LA, CALIFORNIA
A man was detained for alleged DUI after he drove off a
freeway and crashed into a Sun Valley motel, damaging four units later deemed
uninhabitable, early Friday morning, officials said.
A Mercedes drove off the 5 Freeway, spun out and slammed
into the Willows Motor Lodge, at 8333 Glenoaks Blvd. , around 1:30 a.m.,
officials at the scene said.
The car crashed into two occupied rooms. No one inside
was injured.
One woman said the crash felt like an earthquake.
“I was next door reading and then I heard a bang and thought
maybe someone fell down the stairs, and then I heard screaming,” said Tahisha,
who did not want to provide her last name. “I came outside and seen all the
smoke.”
People in the area pulled the driver out of the car – it was
not clear if he was conscious at the time – and poured water on the smoking car
in an effort to prevent a fire from starting, Tahisha said.
Video showed the driver taking a DUI test then being handcuffed
and placed on a stretcher. He appeared awake as he was placed in the back of an
ambulance by fire officials who said he was detained for allegedly driving
under the influence.
Four rooms at the motel were deemed uninhabitable; two due
to direct damage from the vehicle crashing through its walls and two because of
plumbing issues, officials said.
Building inspectors were on scene and a plumber was on the
way, officials said.
One witness said a vehicle has crashed into or next to the
motel before, but did not specify a date.
“Guys come down the street, come through the fence … it’s a
race track,” said Ron, who only provided his first name.
Source:ktla.com