Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
In a few seconds, the unthinkable happened, and that's when things really came crashing down for the Latimer family. By the grace of God, no one was home. Neighbor Amy Alexander heard the deafening noise, looked outside, then called Isabelle Latimer on her cell phone, saying "you need to come home now, a truck crashed into your house."
Surprisingly calm, the Latimers viewed the wreckage going through the "what if" scenarios, realizing it could've been a lot worse. "If I were home, my car would've been totaled; if I had been cooking, I would've been pinned between the stove and center island, maybe cut by flying tiles," says Isabelle. "The truck narrowly missed the garage - and thank God - there are 5 full canisters of propane inside," said Ed.
Above, photos of the interior show destruction from the massive impact the house sustained. Note the massive chunk of granite which was propelled to the floor. "But after all that, my Marvin windows didn't even crack" chuckled Isabelle. What now?
"We'll be out of the house until January at least," says Ed. There go the holidays. The Latimers and their two sons have been staying with relatives and friends, as the house is deemed uninhabitable. They'll be staying at a hotel close by for an extended period."There's damage all the way up to the third floor - cracks in the walls and ceiling," Isabelle said as we surveyed the damage. The mudroom where all the family's winter coats hang, and which was 3/4 sheared off, is strictly off-limits. Electricity, gas, water - they have all been turned off since the day of the accident.
Yesterday, the Latimers met with a structural engineer, and discussed the huge repair job that lies ahead. Getting the job started will be the biggest hurdle - getting the architectural plans, permits, and sign-off from inspectors. In the meantime, Isabelle said she looks forward to having a lot of dinners with friends.
Digg
Delicious
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (20)
Poor family. I really feel for them. Hopefully, the homeowners insurance will cover most of it. Also, I hope they are able to claim damages from the truck driver and/or his company, too. Every little but helps. But, like she said, it could have been much worse.
Judging from my continued efforts at listening to Michael Savage and Lou Dobbs on the radio, it's a good thing the driver has not been depicted as either Moslem or Mexican. Savage and Dobbs would be tripping all over each other for lynching rights.
Oh, puleeze. Politics has nothing to with this. Ditto the religion/race/creed of the driver. I don't even think we know why he went out of control. Was he drunk, sick, asleep? Anyone hear anything?
He may just not be adept at the use of a clutch. That's a big hill for a truck.
At any rate, thank God no one was in the house.
And yesterday a large, cone shaped, piece of metal just 'fell from the sky' onto a front lawn in NY. What the heck!
I guess if your vehicle has to crash into something, a house would be better than a tree. Houses act as giant shock absorbers and more often than not, the car occupants are not seriously injured. When a car hits a tree, however, well, the results aren't quite as good for the driver and passengers.
The Latimers seem like fine, well balanced people. I'd be strapped down to a gurney with a thorazine drip if this had happened to my home.
My point exactly, Mrs. M. And those categories are flagrantly abused by those two clowns all the time, to promote their nasty agendas.
Poor Spiro. He's suffering Sanctimonious Condemnation Withdrawal. An addict looking for a hit.
ROC, I listen to Dobbs and Savage on a regular basis, despite their nastiness. Their egos are out of control, as are their hatreds. If you seek to point out poster boys for Sactimonious Condemnation WIthdrawl, look no further than them.
Yes. They're horrible. I'm not surprised you listen to them regularly. I'm sure it reinforces your hatred. Makes it easier to dehumanize and categorize all conservatives as "fellow travelers" I imagine.
Surely, that's the attraction for you.
Of course, they have big egos, they're talk show hosts! I don't think you'll find too many milquetoast talk show hosts. Who'd want to listen? If you listen to left-wing talk show personalities, you'll also find that they, too, have out-of-control egos and hatreds: for Republicans. The spittle flies both ways.
Not really, ROC. I like David Brooks. I even like Pat Buchanan!
I can well imagine the aspect of "Buchananism" which you find attractive.
ROC, you got me there. I have no idea what aspect you are talking about. Care to help me out here?
At least Brooks doesn't lie. Or rant.
Best of luck and good wishes to the Latimers. I am so pleased to hear that they were not harmed. What a miracle.
I'm glad to hear the Latimers are taking this so well and that no one was hurt. If I were in their situation, I would have been freaking out a whole lot more.
Hopefully nothing irreplaceable was damaged and hopefully the insurance claims between the driver's insurance and their home owner's insurance don't give them too many problems.
Lucky folks.
I hope insurance pays for a new kitchen. And maybe a nice retaining wall.
They really have a good attitude about this whole thing...They are very lucky they weren't hurt..I wish them the best with getting their house repaired.
What good sports for letting Annette snap and post these pix.
I was in the neighborhood today and drove down Berkeley Place just to see how steep it actually was, and I was surprised to find that it really wasn't all that steep, so I'm really wondering now how this accident occurred.