Family Of 8 Displaced When Car Crashes Into North Bay Home

PETALUMA, CA — Eight people were displaced but fortunately no injuries were reported when a car came crashing through the garage of a Petaluma home Wednesday morning, a captain with the Petaluma Fire Department said.

Firefighter/paramedics were dispatched at 10:05 a.m. to a single-family, one-story home at 99 Maria Drive, which is at the intersection of Maria and Lauren drives, Petaluma fire Capt. Jude Prokop said in a news release.

Crews arrived to find an SUV had crashed into the garage of the corner-lot home, resulting in severe structural damage not only to the garage but the home, Prokop said.

Seven residents were inside the home's living spaces when the SUV came crashing through the side wall of the garage, the captain said. None were injured, nor did the SUV driver report any injuries, he said.

Personnel with the Petaluma Police Department also responded, as did officials with the city's Building Department.

"Although there were no reported injuries from the accident, the damaged caused by the involved vehicle caused significant structural damage to the garage and structural components of the home causing it to be unsafe and uninhabitable," Prokop said.

The city's building inspector red-tagged the home after determining the incident caused "major structural damage."

The home's gas and electric utilities were shut off for safety concerns, and crews performed "emergency stabilization" to prevent the home from collapsing, Prokop said.

The American Red Cross responded to provide emergency shelter services for the displaced family.

"Additional support was provided by the Petaluma Fire Department and the California Fire Foundation SAVE Program providing the family with $250 of emergency support funds," Prokop said.

The fire captain referred further questions to the Petaluma Police Department, but did tell Patch that the driver of the car was a passing motorist and not a resident of the home.

Patch will update this post should further information become available from the Petaluma Police Department.

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