A woman’s Fort Lauderdale home of over 40 years was destroyed after a driver crashed into it on Thursday.
Goldie Pitts, 81, said she was leaving therapy when she came home to police and fire rescue on the side of her house.
The crash happened at around 3:15 p.m. in the 2900 block of Northwest 13th Street, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue. Footage from Chopper6 shows a black SUV that crashed into the side of the residence.
“I seen a big SUV and the side of my house, and I was rushing to try to figure out what was going on ’cause the police and everyone was here and all I know is the lady was driving really fast and she ran into the side of the house,” Pitts said. “The driver was out, and they had her on a stretcher, and they were taking her to the hospital.”
Firefighters found a woman inside the vehicle, who was bleeding and with a leg injury, officials said. She was transported to Broward Health with non-life-threatening injuries.
The person inside the house at the time of the crash was not injured.
“People could’ve been dead, I could’ve been in the utility room washing,” Pitts said. “That’s what I would’ve been doing, washing my clothes to go to work tonight.”
That impact tore through part of the den and laundry area, where family members say someone is often inside.
“It hurts to know we’re gonna have nowhere to sleep tonight, no home, something you’ve worked for all your life,” Pitts said.
Friends, family and neighbors stepped in to board up the damaged area to protect what’s left inside.
A Broward County inspector will assess the structural integrity of the home, and the American Red Cross will assist the affected residents.
The investigation continues. Further details were not available.