LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A family in Oldham County is left feeling scared and overwhelmed after an SUV crashed into their home in the middle of the night, causing extensive damage.
The crash happened along Halls Hill Road, where Christina and Jeremy Vance live with their two children. The SUV came off Covered Bridge Road, crossed their yard, and slammed into the side of their house just after 2 a.m. last week.
"It sounded like a bomb went off," Christina Vance said.
Security footage from the home captured the moment the crash occurred. The impact left a large hole in the exterior of the house, destroyed two bathrooms, and damaged the front door so severely it can no longer be opened.
The driver, identified as Ryan Duncan, 37, was arrested at the scene. According to the arrest citation, Duncan had two open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and is accused of driving under the influence. He faces multiple charges, including four counts of wanton endangerment and operating a vehicle under the influence. His bond was set at $5,000.
Christina said the crash occurred just feet from where her and her husband were sleeping.
"It's our dream home, and it's turned into a nightmare," she said.
Christina said the driver did not have car insurance, leaving the family to navigate repairs through their own coverage. In the meantime, they are considering paying out-of-pocket to install large boulders in their yard as a protective barrier—an expensive measure the family said they shouldn’t have to take on.
“We have to protect ourselves somehow,” Christina said.
She reached out to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to request a guardrail or some form of safety measure be installed, citing the proximity of the curve to their home.
KYTC's response, shared with WDRB, said:
“Guardrail is installed where the slope is non-recoverable for vehicles. If the area beyond the limits of the guardrail is flat and a recoverable slope, none will be installed. Guardrail is only installed to protect the driver from hitting a structure in close proximity to the road edge (for instance, a bridge end or column) or non-recoverable slopes 2 to 1 or steeper. We don't install guardrail to protect personal property.
This location does not warrant an installed guardrail as there is no roadside hazard in this area.
Guardrail is designed explicitly for roadside hazards for an errant vehicle, not for protecting private property. The majority of the time, the determining factor of guardrail installation comes down to the roadside slope. If a side slope is traversable and recoverable by a vehicle, there is no need to have guardrail. If a vehicle cannot get back to the roadway or there is a change for overturning, that is when we look at guardrail installation, Other times, guardrail is to protect roadway-associated structures such as bridge ends or culverts.
Please contact your county magistrate for assistance.”
The Vances said they have long feared an accident like this could happen. Now, they’re pleading for basic safety improvements, such as road signs warning drivers of the sharp curve.
“I feel helpless and scared,” Christina said. “At this point, I’m hardly even comfortable being outside.”
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