Car Crashes Into House Causing Extensive Damage

There were two people in the house at the time of the crash. They were sleeping toward the back side of the house and were not injured, amazingly.

Photo: Washington County Sheriff's Office

(HELVETIA, Ore.) - Washington County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a residence on NW Helvetia Road this morning at 7:48 a.m. after a vehicle crashed into a house. The vehicle crashed through the front living room window. There were no injuries, according to Sgt. Bob Ray with the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

He says there was significant damage to the house and the vehicle was a total loss. The crash happened on NW Helvetia Road, at the intersection of NW Dierdorff Road, in the community of Helvetia.

"Deputies learned that the vehicle failed to negotiate the right-hand curve and crashed into a house where the two occupants were sleeping."

Ray says the 1995 Honda Accord was driven by 36-year-old Benjamin Arnold of Scappoose. It was reported that Mr. Arnold had a medical event which caused him to lose consciousness and drive off the road.

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"Mr. Arnold's Accord slid 110 feet before striking a wood pile, causing his vehicle to go airborne over 70 feet before hitting the house. The Accord crashed head-on into the front porch then spun backwards through the front living room window."

Mr. Arnold was not injured but was assisted by Washington County Fire District 2 for his medical issue.

There were two people in the house at the time of the crash. They were sleeping toward the back side of the house and were not injured, Ray said.

"The Fire Department had to shore up the walls of the house due to the structural damage. There was over $75,000 in damages to the house. The vehicle was a total loss and had to be towed out of the house. It does not appear that there will be any citations issued in this incident."