Driver Of Car That Crashed Into OKC Home Says He Fell Asleep

A car comes crashing through a northwest OKC home like a wrecking ball Sunday afternoon. The accident sent one person inside the house, to the hospital.

Sunday, March 9th 2014, 10:40 pm

By: News 9


A car comes crashing through a northwest OKC home like a wrecking ball Sunday afternoon. The accident sent one person inside the house, to the hospital.

A late night with one hour of sleep is what 25-year-old Jeremy Stuart says sent his car into a northwest Oklahoma City home on Lance Dr. near W. Wilshire Blvd. and N. County Line Rd.

"I was out late. I just fell asleep, and I'm not drunk or anything obviously," said Stuart, who lives in the neighborhood where he crashed his black Volkswagen Jetta. "I must've just hit the gas. I don't know. I have no explanation for it. You fall asleep, you fall asleep."

Stuart says he was on his way to a friend's home at 2 p.m. when he dozed off at the wheel and drove right into 48-year-old Gary Melton's bathroom just as he was taking a bath. Melton's mother, Gwen Melton, says she was in the kitchen making a sandwich when the car barreled through.

"He said ‘I'm going to take a bath. I'm going to lay down. I'm tired.' And after a little bit, I heard this boom then I heard him screaming, and the house shook, sounded like a bomb," said Melton's mother, who's lived in the home for more than 30 years.

"He said ‘Get me out of here. Get me out of here. Get me a towel. I don't want the people to see me like this.'"

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Firefighters had to free Melton from his tub.

"And the bathtub's all busted up. The bricks were all on him. The framing's all on top of him. It was unbelievable," Gwen said.

It's not the first time a car has run into a home in their neighborhood. Gwen said since they live along a sharp corner, their next-door neighbor's home has been clipped before, and she always feared theirs would be next.

"We've always thought this you know, but never up the hill. So he had to have been booking it. We're right at the end."

Stuart's car was towed, but he walks away with just a busted lip and hopes Melton recovers soon.

"I feel so bad for him. I hope that he is ok," Stuart said.

The Melton family's home is without water and they'll have to find another place to stay while the damage and plumbing are being repaired. The car also crashed into Melton's bedroom, so the family will have to replace walls, bricks and an entire bathroom. Oklahoma City Police are investigating the crash

Gary Melton was taken to OU Medical center in serious condition and was upgraded to fair condition hours later. His family says he suffered large cuts on his legs.

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