14-Year Old Crashes Into Home During Joyride
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MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – A Miami Gardens mother says she feels fortunate she escaped serious injury after a speeding black Nissan Maxima crashed into her home while she and her daughter were watching TV on Tuesday.
The driver was just 14-years old, according to his family members. They told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that he is a 8th grade student at Carol City Middle School.
Cell phone video taken by a neighbor shows some dramatic images of the car and neighbors extracting the youngster from the vehicle. He is seen wearing shorts and is shirtless.
The homeowner, 57-year-old Dorothy Gibson, told D'Oench, "I was sitting in my home and I heard a loud bang and noise. I was just watching TV with my daughter and I heard that noise. A big bang. I felt somewhat lost. I grabbed my daughter and went through the sliding glass door."
"I didn't get hurt but I did get hit by something," Gibson said.
Gibson's daughter was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital North Tuesday evening.
"She sustained a head injury, had to get stitches," said the girl's uncle Cyril Gibson.
Gibson says his sister is traumatized but he's glad she was not injured.
"I just thank God. It could have been a lot worse. A few feet more to the left, I could have not been having a sister," said Gibson.
Miami Gardens Police detective Michael Wright said the youngster took the car without his parent's permission and "traveled eastbound and lost control." He said the daughter was injured by flying debris.
Click here to watch Oralia Ortega's report.
The accident happened at 3950 N.W. 207th St. Road.
Equttah Harris, a witness, said. "He came around the corner real fast. He must have been going 100 miles per hour. I heard the car making a ruckus. And then he went airborne into the crib."
"I think it was crazy driving that fast," said another witness Pat Ivey.
Brendan Hester said he saw the accident and called 911.
"I ran over to help," he said. "I have children of my own and it's in my nature to help out."
Ramsey Wells used his cell phone to record the incident. On the tape, you hear a neighbor saying to the young driver, "You were driving that car?"
Wells said, "I ran outside out of concern for my neighbors. I was concerned for their well-being. I heard a loud noise and I was scared."
Wells said "I was shocked. I was really shocked. He was in pain and he was screaming."
"It's terrible," said neighbor Karen Council. "There must be a God because it could have been a lot worse."
"He came flying down the street and went into the house and that was just terrible," said neighbor Eloise Nelson.
Detective Wright said the driver was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. Charges against the driver are pending. The teen's mother says he received a cut to his head and does not know when he'll be released from the hospital.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the Nissan Maxima was towed away, leaving a gaping hole in Gibson's home.
As far as the home, the homeowner's brother says, "The property has been condemned."
