Car Crashes Into Elm Street House

One man was taken to the hospital Monday afternoon after the car he was driving crashed into the front of an Elm Street house.

The man, whose name was not immediately available, was driving a black Hyundai Sonata westbound on Elm Street when it crossed the eastbound lane, traveled across the front yard of 138 Elm St. and hit the front entryway of the house, North Reading Fire Chief Richard Harris said. 

Emergency crews found the driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, lying across the front seat when they arrived shortly after 3 p.m., Harris said. He appeared to be semiconscious, Harris said.

The and advanced life support from Action EMS transported the man to an area hospital, although the extent of his injuries was not immediately known, Harris said.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Road surfaces around town were wet due to a light snowfall Monday afternoon, though it was unknown if weather was factor, officials said.

The impact of the crash shifted the front entryway of the house and cracked the foundation. Cracks on the interior walls and ceiling near the front door also were visible.

"He did quite a number on the house," Harris said.

An official from the town's Building Department told the homeowners that the residence was safe to occupy.

The residence is owned by Mike Granese. His son, Andy, 16, was the only one home at the time of the crash. He was in the living room near the front of the house when he heard and felt the impact.

"I was going to get the phone, and then everything shook and there was a loud bang," Andy Granese said. "The first thing I thought was, 'It's an earthquake.' Then I looked outside and saw some guy yelling to call 911."

Granese was not injured. He said the driver appeared dazed after the crash.

"It looked like he was really out of it," he said. "It looked like he didn't know what was going on."

North Reading police restricted traffic on Elm Street to one lane until crews cleared the scene around 4 p.m.