House Unsafe for Occupancy After Car Crashed Into Basement

The car that damaged the structural integrity of the house, making it unsafe for occupancy, according to Helder Gil, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) spokesman. 

A DCRA inspector was on the scene on the night of the incident and posted a “Danger” unsafe sign on the home.

The car ran into the basement unit of the Georgetown home, damaging the bump out, which is now being supported temporarily by wooden beams. The lintel beam — a common load-bearing building component — was also damaged.

DC Fire and EMS spray painted an orange line across a crack in the building to observe any shifting in the foundation.

DCRA's Gil said the property owner had to fly into DC from California and hire a structural engineer to report on the extent of the damage. 

Fire officials at the scene told Patch there were three units in the building with tenants. But until necessary repairs are made, the building cannot be occupied and the home's residents will be unable to return.

On Tuesday around noon a Rolyn truck was parked in front of the house. Rolyn offers disaster recovery and specialty construction services.