A neighbor said it looked like the car was trying to park before it suddenly accelerated into the building. Police said no one was hurt.
DES MOINES, Wash. — Nine people were displaced after a car crashed into an apartment building in Des Moines Saturday night.
According to the Des Moines Police Department, officers responded to Emerald Court Apartments around 9 p.m. on May 30 after a vehicle struck the building.
Police said the driver accidentally accelerated while trying to park, causing significant damage. Officers said no injuries were reported and there were no signs of impairment.
The American Red Cross said four units were affected, displacing eight adults and one child. Red Cross volunteers responded to help residents with immediate needs, including shelter, food and clothing.
A neighbor, Charlie Franklin, saw the crash happen as the driver appeared to be pulling into an angled parking spot.
“They went right, and I thought they were going to park in this spot where they are now, but they floored it,” Franklin said. “They lost control because they were flooring it, and that’s where they ended up — over there by that bottom apartment.”
Franklin said her first concern was whether the people inside were okay.
“Are they okay? Like, did they have a medical emergency?” Franklin said. “I just wanted to make sure they were okay.”
Another neighbor, Phillip Hamilton, said he woke up to first responders outside the complex.
“There were like two ambulances,” Hamilton said. “I woke up, and then there was the tow truck that came, police, everybody that was surrounded.”
Police said multiple units have been secured until the city’s engineering division can complete a structural assessment.
“It’s really bizarre and shocking and sad,” Hamilton said.
To ensure diverse coverage and expert insight across a wide range of topics, our publication features contributions from multiple staff writers with varied areas of expertise.
