Edmonton police are investigating after two vehicles crashed into homes just blocks apart in the Bonnie Doon area early Monday morning.
The first collision happened at 3 a.m. in the Idylwylde neighbourhood, where an older model SUV crashed into the side of a home on 80th Street, near 86th Avenue.
“Having a good sleep and a big bang to our house,” homeowner Irene Davis said. “Our son comes screaming that somebody hit the house!”
Davis and her husband, Doug, went outside to find a Suburban had hit their house and a neighbour’s home.
“Nearly missed two trees, and struck two homes,” Edmonton Police Service Sgt. Jerrid Maze said.
“And he was trying to start the truck to leave, to drive away,” the Davises added. They said the man appeared intoxicated. “You could tell he was drunk.”
“I told him he had to stay here, and he lit a cigarette and was just walking around in a daze,” Doug Davis said. The couple said the noise from the crash woke several neighbours.
The second crash happened less than an hour later, just a few blocks north. A black car lost control in the Holyrood neighbourhood just after 3:45 a.m.
The car was driving east down 91st Avenue, which curves north to become 76th Street. The car appeared to miss the turn, instead glancing a tree and crashing into a home on the corner.
“Very lucky. I guess we’d call it ‘threading the needle’ here,” Maze said. “The vehicle leaped over the curb and nearly struck two trees, embedding itself in the house behind us.”
The driver of the car was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The passenger was not hurt.
Police said despite the close proximity of the crashes, they do not appear to be related. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in both collisions.
There was a third crash earlier in the night, when a car hit a concrete barrier on 17th Street. “Right now we suspect that all three drivers were impaired,” said Maze.
The Davises were incredulous. “It was shocking. It was very shocking, on a Sunday night. You expect it Saturday night, Friday night, but not on a Sunday,” said Irene. “Well, Monday morning, eh?” Doug Davis said.
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