Neighbors’ reactions to a home damaged in a serious car crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – After Green Shift companies were dispatched to the 2600 block of Waterhaven Drive following initial reports of an explosion on Saturday night, neighbors reacted to the overwhelming scene.

At 6:33 p.m., CPD, CFD, and Hamilton County EMS responded to the scene.

When arriving, first responders saw that a car had crashed into a house, penetrating a portion of a front bedroom and continuing into the garage.

Two neighbors explained what they witnessed before and during the incident.

Jim Caldwell, a nearby neighbor, described his understanding of the situation.
“My wife and I returned from my father’s house last night at about 8:30 p.m., I suppose, and we were surprised to see all the fire engines, the EMTs, and several cars trying to get into the far part of the neighborhood.”

Caldwell went on to tell us that, after being able to squeeze into his own driveway, he took a look at the damage for himself.
“I couldn’t really determine anything that was going on other than the video that I took and a couple of the still photos.”

Caldwell graciously shared his videos and still photographs with us, showing the damage caused to the home.

Another nearby neighbor, Carey Couvillon, stated that he and his wife were home during the incident and heard the initial sound of the crash.
“When we were in the back watching TV, we heard what we thought was the train when it stopped. It always makes a deafening noise. Well, about 20 minutes later, we noticed all the lights outside and then realized what happened, and it was horrific.”

The driver of the vehicle was trapped and required extrication by firefighters using specialized equipment.

The neighbors described the driver as an elderly male.

Caldwell said that the owners haven’t lived in their home long, and he enjoys seeing their family in passing.
“I do know they have young children that we see outside playing often. They are a delightful family, really, but I don’t know them personally.”

Couvillon also agreed that he doesn’t know the family personally but is horrified they must go through such a terrible event.

Caldwell noted that he feels the situation was handled quite professionally as nothing could be seen wrong in the streets, other than the gaping hole in his neighbor’s home.
“It looked like the fire department, and everyone did a great job. My wife came out about 30 minutes after the incident took place. There was absolutely no evidence—nothing on the streets, no marks on the street. While it was a horrible thing to happen, it was professionally addressed.”

Once the firefighters shored up one area to stabilize the structure and secured the house as much as possible, they then turned it over to the homeowners.

We have made contact with the family but have yet to hear anything back.

We have no further information at this time.