(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

DRIVER FLED

Truck crashes into Anders home Sunday morning

Jan 13, 2020 | 10:55 AM

Red Deer RCMP are searching for the driver of a truck that crashed into home in Anders Sunday morning.

Inspector Holly Glassford says the collision happened around 5 a.m. at a home on Avery Street.

“We dispatched to the scene, as well as fire and EMS,” she says. “The driver fled and we will be continuing with our investigation. We’ve determined that the vehicle was not stolen.”

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

A resident of the home says she was sleeping inside at the time when she was woken by the sound of the crash.

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“Luckily I was upstairs in the complete opposite corner of the truck, which is probably the reason that I’m OK,” she exclaims. “It was a very rude awakening. It was the loudest crash I’ve ever heard in my life.”

The resident says she flew out of bed, assuming the crash had happened outside. However, she soon realized the crash was inside her home, at which point she ran, grabbed the phone, and called 911.

“I ran back downstairs, put myself at risk banging on the fender of the vehicle trying to see if anybody was injured or needing help,” says the resident. “Then I got my boots and coat on and went outside to check, and by then the police had arrived and the person had fled.”

The resident admits she’s still reeling from the incident and trying to accept what happened.

“I’m pretty upset at the fact that I put myself at risk to check and see if anybody was hurt, while apparently who did it was a coward and ran,” she points-out. “Not caring whether or not they could have killed somebody, they didn’t care, they just ran away and didn’t care about anything but themselves and that’s really disgusting and pathetic in my opinion.”

The resident now expects the traumatic incident to have not only short-term, but long-term impacts on her life.

“I don’t know how I’m going to be sure another vehicle is not going to slam into my house,” she wonders. “Not only that, but now I’m a burden on my parents. I’m at my parent’s home. They’ve had to buy me clothing and food cause with the structural integrity I couldn’t get to most of my stuff.”

As a result of the experience, the resident strongly suggests creating a plan or list of things to take with you, if in similar types of circumstances.

“You can’t think properly,” says the resident. “I literally didn’t grab the mass of what I should have but luckily I have amazing parents that took me immediately. The only reason this isn’t a lot worse is because that truck is teetering on my deep freeze or it probably would have dropped and done more damage.”

RCMP are canvassing the neighbourhood for any video surveillance residents may have. The vehicle remains on scene as City of Red Deer engineers work to ensure the house’s structural integrity.

It’s not known to what extent road conditions may have played a part in the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.