Police: 1 Dead After Car Crashes Into House

The incident happened in the area of 16 Elm St. in North Reading, Mass.

Police in North Reading, Massachusetts, confirm one person is dead after a car crashed into a house Friday morning.

The incident happened in the area of 17 Elm St. Police say the Honda sedan was traveling eastbound when it jumped a curve, hit a tree and then hit the home twice, bringing down the living room wall.

The driver, a 39-year-old woman from Wilmington, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe she died on impact. Her name is being withheld pending notification of family.

Resident Tracy Griswald tells necn she was in the kitchen, about to grab her coffee, when the car intensely hit the left side of her home.

"When she hit the wall, the wall fell in," she said. "So the wall was on the living room furniture."

Police believe the driver crossed the double yellow line while heading eastbound. She then veered off the roadway, struck a curb and a tree before careening into the house.

Griswald said she couldn't open her front door because the home was shaken really bad.

"We just heard a loud bang so I came outside," she said. "I knew someone had hit the house just because the feeling and I felt the whole house shake. So then I came out and saw the vehicle, the engine was still revving. I just called 911. I was the only here for a while."

Two other people were also inside the house at the time, but no one in the home was injured. The building inspector is working to determine if the house is safe for occupancy.

"It's upsetting to know that somebody passed away and know her circumstances," said Griswald. "It's a little difficult."

Police are investigating if fog was a factor in the crash. Conditions were foggy at the time of the accident.

"This stretch of roadway, we do see a good share of accidents," said North Reading Police Chief Michael Murphy.

Contact Us