Two impaired drivers have been arrested after crashing into separate homes in Vancouver

VANCOUVER Washington (KPTV) – Two drivers crashed into homes in Vancouver last week.

At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, a driver plowed through Southeast 18th Street, wrecking a car and coming to a stop just before crashing through a kitchen wall.

“All he could say was, 'I'm sorry,'” Dennis Ditch said, describing his interaction with an accused impaired driver after a Ford F-150 crashed into the side of his house. Luckily no one was hurt, but it was close.

“I heard it before I saw it. I was about one step away from seeing it and about three steps away from standing in the corner making coffee,” Ditch said.

His oven was knocked out of the wall and his sink and countertops were smashed.

Ditch's neighbor Tanya Mikkelson believes her car helped slow the speeding truck and lessen the impact on Ditch's home. Unfortunately, that's because it was also hit.

“I had just finished getting ready and we just heard this really loud, classic metal-on-metal car crash sound,” Mikkelson said. “Our car, a Chevy Malibu that was parked here, slid back five to six feet. When we came over to look at the driver’s side, it was completely smashed.”

SEE ALSO:

Mikkelson called 911 as the damage became apparent.

“It hit our car with such force that it tore off the driver’s front wheel,” she described.

Victor Hugo Mora Soriano, 35, was arrested at the scene and charged with drunken driving and reckless driving.

Across the city, Vancouver police said an impaired driver left more damage on South Leising Street last Monday.

A homeowner there, wanting to protect her privacy, said she was sitting in her living room at 6:30 a.m. when a car crashed through the wall. She said she was still shaken, adding the driver tried to leave but her husband took their keys while they waited for police to arrive.

VPD arrested 21-year-old Cayden Flanagan, who was charged with DUI and Driving While Probation.

Once again, no one was physically injured in South Leising, but this is not a victimless crime.

“We have kids and they play outside a lot, just riding their bikes or walking, in what is usually a very quiet area, so this is definitely unusual and really scary that it can just happen out of nowhere,” Mikkelson said.

All three victims also noted the time of day, with each accident occurring before 9 a.m

“Early in the morning, yes. “Must have had a good breakfast,” said Ditch. “But if you drink, hand over your keys, call a friend, call an Uber, walk or sleep in the car, I don’t care.”

Copyright 2024 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.