Speeding Driver Plows Into Military Veteran's Chula Vista Home

The homeowner and driver were both hospitalized following the collision on Colusa Street, officials said

When a driver plowed into a home in Chula Vista Saturday morning, the family inside thought there had been some sort of blast in their house.

"It sounded like an explosion," said Ellis Shurn, who was visiting his brother, homeowner LeRay Shurn.

"At the time the accident happened, my brother was actually walking to the front of the house. It was devastating for him because, as I said, it sounded like a bomb went off,” Ellis added.

Just before 10 a.m., Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) Capt. Bill Nigh said a woman was driving her Mercedes westbound in the 1600 block of Colusa Street when, for unknown reasons, she lost control. 

Her car went airborne, narrowly missing two large palm trees a front yard before slamming into LeRay's house. Though LeRay and several family members were inside the home when the car came barreling in, no one was hit.

"If anybody was in that front room it could have been a casualty," a rattled Ellis told NBC 7.

In the path of the car, shattered glass, debris and mangled Christmas decorations were left behind. Nigh said the crash caused “significant damage” to the home; investigators believe the driver was traveling at a high speed.

Chula-Vista-Car-Into-House-1210-3
NBC 7 San Diego
Building inspectors were called to the home on Colusa Street to assess the integrity of the structure following the crash.

Neighbors told NBC 7 they heard a loud boom and when they walked outside, they saw the wreckage at the home on Colusa Street.

City building inspectors were called out to check the integrity of the house. Soon, a towing company arrived to help remove the Mercedes, which was partially wedged in the home.

As the vehicle was towed out, the sounds of more glass shattering could be heard. Rocks from the landscape shifted, and small pieces of the wall hit in the crash fell to the ground. Neighbors gathered to watch the commotion.

Nigh said the homeowner and driver were both taken to a local hospital, as they were both suffering from shock and stress-related medical issues stemming from the jarring incident.

Ellis said LeRay is a 63-year-old U.S. military veteran who worked as a drill instructor for the U.S. Marine Corps and then in civil defense for the U.S. Navy.

LeRay is suffering from lung cancer and had been recently released from the hospital, Ellis said.

"Me, my uncle my dad, we flew in from out of state to help him deal with what he’s going through," said Ellis.

Following the crash, Ellis said his brother was feeling short of breath and was taken back to the hospital. Ellis said the family is worried that the stress of this accident will worsen LeRay's condition.

At this point, the crash is under investigation and officials have not determined if drugs or alcohol played a factor. No further details were immediately released. Cleanup efforts continued for several hours after the crash.

Contact Us