A St. Clair Shores resident experienced a narrow escape when a pickup truck crashed into her home last Friday. According to a WWJ Newsradio report, police believe the driver was under the influence when the vehicle smashed through the wall of the condo located near Williamsburg, Masonic, and Harper.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m., demolishing the living room area of the residence where Christine Chilcutt lives. She narrowly avoided injury by mere feet, as she had risen from her couch to adjust the curtains just moments before the impact. "I heard a crash. I turned and there was a truck in my living room," Chilcutt stated in a ClickOnDetroit interview. The driver of the red Ram pickup has been detained by authorities, although their name has yet to be released.
No injuries were reported, and the couple's two cats, Bella and Stephie, were later found unharmed, hiding downstairs. Neighbor Morgan Rogers woke up to the sound of the crash, recounting to FOX 2 Detroit, "I was sleeping, and I heard a really big boom and I looked out my window, and then I see a car and all the windows just knocked out." The scene displayed tire tracks across the grass evidence of the truck's trajectory off the road and into Chilcutt's home.
Bill Emerick of Broadco Property Restoration, while working on the site, spoke of the incident as a "Christmas miracle," according to ClickOnDetroit. Efforts quickly to get the damaged property repaired before the holidays began, with Emerick saying, "We’re just trying to get everything prepared for them at least somewhat to enjoy the holidays the best that they can obviously before Christmas." Moreover, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to aid in the recovery and repairs.
The building has been deemed livable following the crash, despite extensive structural damage. The horrifying event has left Chilcutt and her partner, Tom Clark, shocked but grateful for their safety, emphasizing the randomness with which tragedy may strike and the fragile thread upon which life sometimes hangs.
