Car crashes into Portland home causing fiery explosion with locals up in arms after 29th crash at property
An SUV slammed into a Portland home on Christmas Eve, igniting a massive blaze at a property that has been the scene of nearly 30 car accidents over the last decades according to neighbors, with locals now calling for a change.
Portland Fire and Rescue responded to a massive fire after an out of control SUV crashed into the front of a three-story apartment building — taking out its natural gas meter, according to KGW.
“When the car struck the gas meter, the gas was naturally flowing from the underground line through the vehicle,” Rick Graves, public information officer for Portland Fire and Rescue, said.
Officials say the damage to the natural gas line resulted in the huge flames — saying most of the damage was done to the car and the exterior walls of the apartment building.
PFR says that the placement of the truck actually diverted the gas line from the building, which fortunately prevented potentially worse outcomes.
No injuries were reported. One Oregon resident escaped the home safely after the explosion and first responders provided oxygen to a cat on scene, the outlet reports.
The property, which was once a single family home and is now a four-unit, three story apartment building, has been incredibly unlucky when it comes to car accidents, with residents sick of the city not addressing the persistent problem.
Next door neighbor Mike Powers, who has lived in his Sullivan’s Gulch home for 30-years, tells KGW that he and his wife have documented 29 car accidents at the property.
When asked about the Christmas Eve crash, he said it sounded like a bomb went off.
A sharp turn at an intersection of the residential road goes unnoticed by drivers who then slam into the property with an apparent once-per-year regularity.
Another neighbor tells the outlet that the pleas from locals to address the issue have fallen on deaf ears.
“I think what’s most important here is neighbors come together and organize around the intersection,” Nels Pierson tells KGW. “I know people have been fighting long and hard to change the roadway design, and this is the moment we need to do it.”
No information is currently available on the driver of the car.
