A 23-year-old driver suspected of driving under the influence slammed into the giant wooden water wheel outside Naturwood Home Furnishings in Rancho Cordova early Saturday, shattering the roadside landmark and injuring himself in the process. Officials said the vehicle veered off Highway 50, barreled through the store’s west parking lot and ultimately plowed into the towering wheel.
According to the California Highway Patrol and reporting by CBS Sacramento, the driver was heading east on Highway 50 just west of Hazel Avenue at high speed when he lost control and shot through the west parking area. Officers arrested the 23-year-old on suspicion of DUI and had him taken to a hospital for treatment, CBS reported. The CHP also told the outlet the impact was so violent that the vehicle’s engine block separated and was later found underneath the car.
How the crash unfolded
Local TV coverage and CHP logs show the crash was reported at about 3:30 a.m. The car tore down roughly 75 feet of chain-link fencing as it left the roadway, rolled and then smashed into the decorative wheel, according to KCRA. Photos published by KCRA show the wheel’s heavy timbers fractured and fencing crumpled where the vehicle punched through the lot. Emergency crews stayed on scene while CHP investigators documented the wreckage and worked to clear debris.
The wheel and the store
The water wheel has been a fixture of the Naturwood showroom on Folsom Boulevard since the company opened its Rancho Cordova building in 1984, according to the business’s history page. The site describes an immense wheel flanking the showroom, a visual landmark that has stood out to drivers on Highway 50 for decades.
Investigation and next steps
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and the suspected role of alcohol, and authorities said the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI, per CBS Sacramento. It was not immediately clear whether formal charges had been filed. As the scene is fully cleared, CHP and the store are expected to coordinate cleanup and any insurance or repair arrangements tied to the damage.
