CHICAGO (WLS) — In the quiet pre-dawn hours of Sunday, Mallory and John Baquero lay asleep in their West Town residence, unaware that their home was moments away from an unexpected intrusion.
A sudden, thunderous crash erupted, jolting the couple awake. Their townhome trembled violently under the impact.
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John sprang into action, searching for tarp and other materials to patch up a sizable hole. A vehicle had careened into their ground floor, the driver apparently confusing the brake with the gas pedal, according to the Baqueros.
“The entire house just shook,” Mallory recalled emphatically. “I bolted out of bed, peered through our window, and couldn’t believe my eyes as I shouted, ‘A car has crashed into our house!'”
The couple’s first concern was for the driver. Fortunately, reports indicate they emerged from the crash unscathed.
“She seemed like an old woman on her way to church, dressed very nicely,” John said.
Mallory and John became concerned about the displaced bricks and the hole in their wall.
The couple has only lived there for a few months, and it is their first home. They are unsure what to do, but they say they expect the city to help them with the process so they can get the car removed.
And while the Baqueros say first responders and the alderman’s office have tried to be helpful, they were told that the car cannot be removed until there’s an inspection by the Buildings Department. They are starting to get impatient.
“We’re doing everything in our power to get this car out of our home. It’s dangerous for us, for the community,” Mallory said.
“It’s just mind-boggling that it’s taken this long,” John added.
ABC7 reached out to the city’s Buildings Department but did not immediately hear back. The Bancheros are hoping this story may prompt some action.
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