Martinez

Driver Flees After Crashing Into Home in Martinez

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Martinez police on Wednesday were searching for a driver who crashed into a home and then fled from the scene on foot.

The crash at the home on Alhambra Avenue resulted in a gas leak, but responding crews shut off the gas and were working on the lines, police said.

As of 11:42 a.m., Soto Street was closed between Castro Street and Alhambra Avenue, according to police.

Surveillance video showed a gold Toyota Corolla speeding across a resident's yard before crashing into the side of Zoie Toupin’s house.

The driver left the car dangling in Toupin’s basement wall, causing a gas leak. Toupin saw a quick glimpse of the driver before he ran away.

“There’s always a lot of traffic and loud vehicles on the street and things that shake the house. So, I wasn’t totally surprised. I thought that the accident had taken place on the street. So, when I saw it actually hit the house, that was shocking,” she said.

Maria Da Conceicao told NBC Bay Area that this isn’t the first time it’s happened. She has owned the house for 60 years and even installed poles into her landscaping to prevent cars from hitting the home after multiple accidents.

But those poles only cover the front of the house not the side. Da Conceicao is now asking the city for help.

“It’s dangerous. They should have lights there. Especially, I ask them quite often. When I had the problem, I asked and they did put the signs over there. One of those flashing signs there. That is all they did,” she said.

Toupin said she was thankful that it wasn’t worse.

“I’m just glad no one was hurt. I can't really speak to his situation. But I'm just glad that the damage wasn't more and there was no one down there,” she said.

Crews were repairing some of that damage. Power and gas had been shut off. But there is no timeline on how long it will take to make those repairs.

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