Police: DUII driver crashes car through McMinnville home, destroying entire kitchen – KATU

DUII driver crashes car through McMinnville home, destroying entire kitchen (Photo from McMinnville Police)

Police say a man driving under the influence crashed completely through a McMinnville home, destroying several walls and the kitchen.

Several 911 calls just before midnight Friday reported a car into a house in the 1200 block of Southwest Darci Drive.

Officers and medics arrived on scene and rendered aid to the sole occupant of the car, later identified as 28-year-old Mario Gomez-Martinez of McMinnville.

Gomez-Martinez was taken to the Willamette valley Medical Center by ambulance and later transferred to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

Police say Gomez-Martinez was driving a 1998 Buick Century south on Southwest Hill Road and an "extreme" rate of speed. Gomez-Martinez failed to make the first 90-degree curve to the right and left the road with no indication of braking, police say.

The car crashed through brush and small trees on the south shoulder of the road and continued through a 6-foot wood fence that borders the property. The car continued across the back yard, crashing through the home.

Not slowing at all, police say the car continued through the interior of the home, destroying another wall and the entire kitchen, including cabinets, a refrigerator, and more.

Police say the car then continued through the home, crashing through the southern exterior wall and exiting the structure.

Police say the car still had enough momentum to travel across the front yard, moving large rock and landscape stones.

It finally came to rest in the middle of Southwest Darci Drive.

The total distance traveled by the vehicle from the point that it left Southwest Hill Road, until coming to a stop on Southwest Darci Drive was about 205 feet.

Fortunately, the residents were not home at the time of the crash.

The American Red Cross was notified and is offering the residents housing assistance.

Police say the investigation further revealed that Gomez-Martinez had consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana just before the crash.

Charges of DUII and reckless driving are pending his release from the hospital.

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Police: DUII driver crashes car through McMinnville home, destroying entire kitchen - KATU