Louisville woman calls for safety changes after car goes airborne, crashes outside her home

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Louisville mother is calling for action after her front porch security camera captured a terrifying crash over the weekend — a car flying through the air and slamming into a tree, just feet away from where her daughter had been sitting.

Katelyn Tucker said it sounded like a train roaring through her neighborhood on Northwestern Parkway.

"It sounded like a train," Tucker recalled. "He hit another car at the corner over there, and when he did, he just came straight this way, hit my neighbor’s bricks, went into the air, flipped, and slammed into that tree right there."

Louisville Metro Police said the car was driven by a 19-year-old who ran a stop sign and was traveling well above the posted speed limit. Officers said the driver survived, and has been charged with reckless driving and running a stop sign.

Tucker has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years and said crashes are disturbingly common — sometimes happening as often as once a month.

"I've seen a lot — probably about ten," she said. "Some people have died, some got out and ran away, and others were trapped in the wreckage. Police had to pry them out. Cars have flipped ... everything."

Monday, the sidewalk in front of Tucker's home is littered with debris from past wrecks.

"That's from the last wreck — and this one," she said.

This area has been the scene of even greater tragedy. In February, Anna Maria Gonzalez was killed when police said her estranged boyfriend, Scott Drollinger, had been drinking when he lost control of his truck. The truck skidded down the sidewalk for more than 100 yards, taking out fences and crashing into everything in its path. Gonzalez died, and Drollinger was indicted for her murder.

Parts of his truck still remain scattered along the sidewalk today.

Bill Bradley, who lives next door to Tucker, said he’s also experienced years of property damage.

"I've been here 50 years," Bradley said. "Eighteen of my cars have been hit — four or five were totaled. Lately, I don't even park out front anymore. Now my garbage cans get hit instead."

Bradley said after the most recent crash, his garbage can was thrown down the street.

Tucker had just finished repairing her fence after the February crash when this weekend's crash nearly destroyed it again. She said it’s gotten to the point where she no longer allows her kids to sit outside.

"It's just too dangerous," she said. "As a parent, I'm scared for my kids. Something has to be done. We can't keep having wreck after wreck and people dying."

Tucker pointed out that a new library recently opened nearby, bringing in even more foot traffic — especially from children, women and seniors.

"You're telling me you're going to open a library for women, children, new moms, older people — and not make it safe?" she said.

Until now, Tucker said neighbors haven’t contacted city leaders about the dangerous conditions — but after the latest crash, that’s about to change.

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