E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA Connecticut couple returned home from vacation to find something unexpected in their bedroom: someone else's car. WVIT-TV's Ilana Gold reports.
MERIDEN, Conn. -- A Connecticut family has a big mess to clean up after a car crashed into their bedroom while they were away.
The Scalzos were caught off-guard on Sunday night when they drove up to their home on Round Hill Road in Meriden, Conn., after a weekend away in Pennsylvania.
“I saw all the flashing lights and the fire engines… At first we thought it was a fire or something,” said Nick Scalzo.
For more, visit NBCConnecticut.com
When he and his family took a closer look, they couldn’t miss the car on its side that had flipped into their bedroom.
“Sure enough, there was a car up against the house and chaos,” Scalzo added.
Police told NBC Connecticut that the driver swerved to avoid hitting an animal, then lost control before he crashed into the home and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
“Just a complete disaster,” said Scalzo — both on the outside and on the inside.
Scalzo’s bedroom was a shambles right after the fact, and roughly 24 hours later, it looked more like a construction zone. The walls were still boarded up and it was filled with rubble.
“It will be a mess for a while,” Scalzo said.
The crash happened 20 minutes before the family came home from their vacation. Despite the damage, the family said they were fortunate they weren’t in the bedroom, because someone could have been seriously hurt or even killed.
“We could have been in there unpacking,” Nick Scalzo said.
Related: Instant garage? No, car took wrong turn
On Monday, Meriden police were still investigating the crash and didn’t know if alcohol could have been a factor. The driver was rushed to the hospital with minor injuries.
“They wheeled him away. They asked if he was speeding; he said he wasn't,” Scalzo said.
Police told NBC Connecticut they questioned whether that was true and said the driver could have been going well over the 30 mph speed limit. Police have not released the name of the driver.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
What a bummer. That will sure kill a good time.
Sounds like a prize package off the old game show. "Ummmmm I'd like the bedroom suite for $400. And I'll take the vacation for $900........ohhhhhh and ummmm I'll buy the car for $5,400."
"I'll take what's behind door number three. Only two doors? No problem."
Never make a hard swerve to avoid hitting an animal - lots of serious accidents happen that way, especially in winter when roads are slick. Just take the animal between the wheels.
Did it try the other 2 bedrooms and decide that this one was just right?
In other words they were drunk.
Robin, your last name should be Uso. Cause Uso funny!
Meriden,CT, not Meridian
Wonder if she offers fries at that drive through?
What is it with these idiots driving into houses lately? Would YOU like it if somebody drove into your house?
Yes, if they drove an armored car full of gold bullion and then said, "This is all yours!"
All the three bears found, in one of their bedrooms, was that thief and vandal, Goldilocks!
I wasn't distracted I knew what I was doing! It was my cell phone your honor. The apps are just so small!
The driver just needed a place to crash.
hahahaha
Yea Bill, he was asleep before his head hit the air bag.
Ah yea...Memories.
I remember my friend John had just gotten his first car, a Plymouth Duster, and got word of this huge college party going on two towns over in downtown Providence. We all piled in three in the back and tow up front for the ride. We got some guy at the liquor store to buy us a liter of vodka and some oj and headed downBroadway into what was the "ghetto" of Providence. We're all good and buzzed and John is driving at a pretty good speed for Broadway as we all look for this side street we're supposed to turn on. Just as we're about to pass it one of us see the street and call out "Turn Left!" He was half way past it but attempts the turn. We slide sideway up over the sidewalk, up a long patch of wet mud and grass finally straigtening out the car but not before we proceed into the side of this brick foundation three story house. When the dust cleared the first thing we see straight ahead of us is this little old ladys feet coming slowly down a set of stairs to the basement and then her pulling a string to turn the basement light on. Thinking from what she was seeing from her end must have been a sight with this entire front half of a car in her basement, lights still on and all of us silently staring at her. She turned, didn't say a word and slowly went back up the stairs we assume to call the police. My friend Johns first words were "Everybody Out! Get rid of the Vodka!, Get rid of the cups!.. GO GO GO!!.." We all climbed out of the basement one by one and bolted up the street. Not until we got about a block away did we realize we weren't the ones in trouble but that only John was and went back to wait for the cops to arrive with him. After the cops came a tow truck came and towed John new car from the basement leaving this massive hole in the side of the house. Being on Broadway we all hopped a bus home out of the ghetto and back home..
It was a unicorn, officer, I swear.
I was working in my office that was in the walkout basement - the office was built into the side of a hill -when there was this terrific bang! I looked out my window and there was a pickup truck sticking out of the office next to mine. My big old mean boss had just been heading down the hallway to that office, a few seconds later and he would have had a lot more problems than just being a nasty person. Of course, had the truck veered course a little, I would have been the one with the problems! Since no one was hurt, it did look rather funny.
A car in the bedroom, is a crappy way to end a vacation.
Thankfully no one was hurt.
Your 'name your own price' insurance may not cover this one!
Jessica, I miss you
hit the cat or run my car into a house? hmmmm. i think i'll save the animal and total my car. The only animals you need to avoid hitting are skunks, porcupines and any other animal larger than a medium size dog. That is only to avoid the smell and costly repairs to the vehicle, not to actually prevent you from hitting the animal for it's safety.
Hmmm, hit the house or have all the swarming uncaged rabbid PETA supporters accusing me of murder? Yea, I'll take the house!
@Sarcasticus1 And had the family gotten home an was unpacking there would have still been a manslaughter trial.
Peta can make me a roast beef sandwich and shove it. i couldn't care less what those morons think.
Now, isn't this just the perfect story to have accompanying pictures?
“They wheeled him away. They asked if he was speeding; he said he wasn't,” Scalzo said.
Police told NBC Connecticut they questioned whether that was true and said the driver could have been going well over the 30 mph speed limit. Police have not released the name of the driver.
--------------------------------
Methinks the driver was lying. Pretty hard to lose control of a car at 30 MPH, and even harder to put a car through a house at that speed. I'd also bet there was no animal. I say alcohol and speeding.
He was probably going 31 mph
It only takes 25 mph to do that to a building.
coulda put a real damper on their night if they were in there doin' the horizontal polka
Really? Animals move, houses don't. If an animal crosses your path, DON'T SWERVE.
Dragonheart,
Totally agree. Living in northern Minnesota lots of Deer crossing the roads especially at night. We're taught not to swerve. If you take Bambi out, oh well. At least you did'nt swerve and have a potential rollover situation.
on the plus side free jerky.
SURPRISE!!! Welcome home.
If you don't like the way I drive, stay out of the pool!!!!!!!
Insurance companies tell you to NEVER swerve to avoid an animal. If you have full coverage, you could wind up fighting the insurance company if you do swerve and cause alot more damage than was necessary. Nobody wants to hit an animal (ok, some do), but it happens.....I try to remind myself of this every time I get into a car.
When I took driver's ed many years ago, there were only 3 things that would get you failed outright. Swerving to avoid a bird, running over a skunk or running over a porcupine.
One more thought. Depending on what kind of car you are in and where you live striking an animal can easily prove fatal to you. Large game animals like to roll up over the hood and come through the passenger compartment where they are struck. This can prove very unhealthful to the occupants in the car.
Of course this does not apply to a dog, cat small/medium animal.
If it comes down to me or a deer, you can kiss bambi goodbye - I ain't swerving.
If you hit Bambi, it may be that both you and the deer go to Bambi heaven.
Oh, come on, we know the driver was speeding. Unless that was Mighty Mouse he swerved to avoid and Mighty Mouse picked his car up and threw it over the lawn and into the house!
Thank the maker that no one was home and everyone was all right.
He must have seen that 10 foot skunk I usually see when I'm wasted
I dont know about you, but i wouldn't want a patio door off the bedroom. Lets in too much light. I have to wonder just how big was this animal??? Was it one of those mooses? I know, it was that Sans Scrotum animal running around loose! Damned political animal, big headed as they come!