A car remains lodged inside a West Town townhome after an early Sunday crash, leaving a Chicago couple staring at a gaping hole in their first home. Mallory and John Baquero say the vehicle has not been removed because the city’s Buildings Department must inspect the damaged structure first. For now, the crash scene is still part of their living space.
The collision jolted the couple awake and sent the vehicle into a first-floor room, according to ABC7 Chicago. The Baqueros told the station that the driver was not hurt, and John described her as an older woman who appeared to be headed to church.
Mallory said the impact shook the entire house, while John scrambled to cover the opening with a tarp and other supplies. The couple has lived in the townhome for only a few months, making the crash an especially jarring introduction to homeownership.
Buildings Inspection Is Holding Up Removal
The Baqueros said they were told the car cannot be taken out until the Chicago Department of Buildings completes an inspection. That step is meant to determine how the displaced bricks and damaged wall should be stabilized before crews attempt to remove the vehicle, as detailed by ABC7 Chicago.
First responders and the alderman’s office have tried to help, the couple said, but the delay has become increasingly frustrating. Mallory said the car remains dangerous for the household and the surrounding community, while John called the wait “mind-boggling.”
Chicago’s official building-records portal shows that the city documents inspections and structural-safety concerns before repairs are cleared. In this case, the Baqueros are waiting for that process to move from paperwork to the actual removal of the car.
ABC7 reported that the city’s Buildings Department had not immediately responded to questions about the delay. The Baqueros hope the attention will prompt an inspection, a safe extraction and a chance to stop living with a vehicle where their wall used to be.
