Car crashes into Norwalk condo building; 3 people displaced, 2 sent to hospital
The car had gone through one of the units. Firefighters and EMS worked to extricate the driver, while other first responders focused on whether people were trapped in the affected condo.
More Stories
Three people in Norwalk have been temporarily forced out of their home after a car crashed into a four-unit condominium building Tuesday evening. The collision happened on North Taylor Avenue just after 5 p.m. and sent two people to the hospital.
“I was sitting down in the living room watching TV, and all of a sudden, I heard this big crash. I said, ‘Oh, my God!’ I went to my kitchen window, and there the car was inside the building,” recalled neighbor June Kotos. “It was so loud, I was actually shaking, and when I saw the car, I immediately called 911. They came as fast as possible.”
The car had gone through one of the units. Firefighters and EMS worked to extricate the driver, while other first responders focused on whether people were trapped in the affected condo.
“My concern was anyone inside that might be underneath the vehicle, so I had my rescue company force the door, and we had to push some debris out of the way to get the door open,” explained Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Maggio.
They searched the condo and found a woman in a back bedroom who wasn't physically hurt but appeared distressed.
“She was hyperventilating and probably in shock,” Maggio stated.
That woman went to the hospital, as did the driver, who Maggio said had minor injuries and had to be removed from her car through the rear hatch.
Another neighbor told News 12 he heard what sounded like a car accelerating before the crash. Police are investigating the cause and said it appears the driver hit the gas instead of the brake.
One condo was deemed uninhabitable by building inspectors due to structural concerns, but the other three units are fine, according to Maggio.
Firefighters put a structure in the damaged condo to temporarily shore up the building until repairs can be made.
“All the firefighters did a great job. You know, we train for this often. We have a very diverse group that comes from all backgrounds—trades, carpenters, electricians. Calls like this go very well with the experience we have here,” Maggio said.
