The residents of a four-unit townhouse building in Springdale were put out of their homes Saturday after an SUV crashed into the back of it, shearing a natural gas meter, authorities said.
The woman driving the SUV was not seriously hurt, and no other injuries were reported, Springdale fire Chief Dan Copeland said.
The incident happened around 12:25 p.m. on Walnut Street, a block up from Pittsburgh Street and near the back of the Springdale Borough Building within sight of the police department entrance.
It was close enough to the borough building that part of what happened may have been captured on its surveillance cameras, police Sgt. Fred Hockenberry said.
A man who lives in the townhouse, who did not want to give his name, said he was standing outside smoking when the incident happened. The SUV passed within feet of him — right past his face, he said.
“I got lucky,” he said. “I could’ve died right there. I would’ve been done.”
According to the man, the SUV came down Walnut Street from James Street, toward the municipal building. He saw the SUV turn right between his building and a garage, but turned late or wide, hitting part of the apron of the garage before accelerating between the buildings and hitting the back of the townhouse building.
Hockenberry said the woman, who he did not identify, lives in the area.
The odor of natural gas was noticeable. In addition to the meter that was sheered off, the SUV was on top of a second meter, Copeland said.
Nearby buildings fronting on Pittsburgh Street were briefly evacuated. Natural gas and electric to the townhouse were shut off.
In addition to Springdale, firefighters from East Deer and Tarentum responded because of the gas leak, Copeland said.
The townhouse, occupied by sisters Maria Willison, 71, and Madeline Dembowski, 76, sustained tremendous damage, Copeland said. The Red Cross was contacted to help them.
The sisters said they have lived there for 28 years.
“We don’t got no other place to live,” Dembowski said.
Willison and Dembowski were resting on a bench outside the borough building while crews worked to remove the SUV and assess the damage to the building.
“I’m just glad nobody was very badly hurt,” Willison said.
Dembowski said she was upstairs when the SUV hit the building, and her sister yelled for her to come down.
“I smelled the gas,” Willison said. “I grabbed her by the arm and I said, ‘we’re getting out of here.’”
Dembowski said she heard a big bang. Willison said it was more like an explosion.
“She was going very fast,” Willison said. “Her front wheels came through the building. That’s the only way we knew the explosion was a car.”
Willison turned her attention to the woman driving the SUV.
“I hollered at her, ‘Get out! Get away from the car!,’ ” Willison said. “She just stood there maybe four minutes just looking at it. A fireman got her.”
Dembowski said they were lucky to have gotten out of their home fast.
“Things will get better,” Willison said. “Just got to pray a little harder.”
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
