Vehicle Crashes 'Completely Through' Valrico House

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a vehicle-versus-house crash in the Valrico area.

According to deputies, a 55-year-old Valrico man drove his 2015 Ford into the home at 924 Greenbelt Circle around 6:12 a.m. Saturday. The man, an email from the sheriff’s office stated, told deputies he intended to commit suicide by driving the vehicle into the house.

The man was heading west on Brandon Lake Avenue, ran a stop sign doing between 60 and 70 mph and plowed into the back of the home. He went “completely through the house, coming to a stop inside the house at the front door.”

Two people were home at the time, but were no injured, the sheriff’s office said.

The man, who Patch is not identifying, also stabbed himself multiple times prior to the crash, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Structural engineers are assessing the damage.

With an estimated 40,000 deaths attributed to suicide annually, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists this as the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2010 alone, there were an average of 105 suicides reported daily across the country.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Image via Shutterstock