A high-speed crash in Huntington Beach has left multiple homes with serious damage after a 17-year-old unlicensed driver lost control of a vehicle last Friday night. As reported by KTLA, the incident occurred just before 10:40 p.m. at 19101 Newland Street, resulting in a collision with a tree and two residential homes. The force of the impact caused significant structural damage to at least one of the homes, as evidenced by video footage obtained by the station.
The two occupants of the car, including the driver and an 18-year-old male passenger, sustained minor injuries and were transported to UCI Medical Center by the Huntington Beach Fire Department. No injuries were reported from residents at the impacted homes, which included a woman and an infant, according to CBS Los Angeles. The juvenile driver has since been cited for driving without a license and reckless driving and was released to a guardian.
The Huntington Beach Police Department was quick to respond to the scene, with traffic investigators conducting a preliminary examination. "Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears that the vehicle was traveling south on Newland Street at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control," the police stated. They also confirmed that impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash. Subsequent actions involved securing the damaged structures by fire personnel and city building inspectors, limiting occupancy in one residence until power is restored, as detailed by a press release from the City of Huntington Beach.
While the affected residents work to recover from the unexpected disruption, the Huntington Beach Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances of the event. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact their Traffic Investigators at 714-536-5663. As for now, the aftermath of the teenager's ill-fated maneuvering remains a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in reckless driving, especially when done so without the appropriate license or the maturity to handle the power of a vehicle.
