Truck crashes into Columbia house

A firefighter assesses the crash scene Thursday evening on West Park Drive. (Corey Saathoff photo)

Columbia police, fire and ambulance personnel responded about 5:30 p.m. Thursday to the scene of a Chevy Avalanche that crashed into the attached garage portion of a house at 606 West Park Drive.

The driver of the truck, Thomas S. Schmidt, 58, who lives right across the street from the home that was struck, was not seriously injured and was taken to the police station for questioning. He was later arrested for DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and expired registration. Schmidt posted bond and was released from police custody.

The owner of the home, Barb Stroud, was outside doing lawn work when she saw her neighbor’s truck smash through the side of her home. It collided with a car parked in her garage. There was no one inside the home when the crash occurred.

“She was about to park her lawnmower right where the truck came through,” Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears told the Republic-Times. “She would’ve been gone.”

The fire department called in a company to board up the damaged portion of the home, clearing the scene shortly after 9 p.m.

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Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
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