Fort Lauderdale police are looking for the driver in a hit-and-run crash that destroyed a home at a busy intersection. No one was hurt, but neighbors are calling for safety features to prevent more crashes. NBC6’s Marissa Bagg reports
Fort Lauderdale police are still searching for a hit-and-run driver that smashed into a house and took off.
No one was home, but homeowner James DeCrescenzo wants change at what he calls a dangerous intersection.
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The crash involved a Ford F-150 and a Jaguar, and happened on Northwest 13th Street and 7th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said. Witnesses said the driver of a Jaguar collided into the house, and then ran from the scene.
DeCrescenzo took NBC6 crews inside show the extent of the damage in the living and dining room. The front end of his house is smashed in, and it’s been deemed unsafe by the fire department.
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Thankfully, he said, his renters had left the day before the crash.
Though DeCrescenzo said he hopes the driver is arrested, he’s more concerned about how often crashes happen here--which is why he doesn’t live there.
“I moved out of my home because of fear,” he said. "One of my cars was hit, my neighbor's car was hit, how long before something more serious happens?"
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Fort Lauderdale police were back out there on Friday talking with neighbors and investigating the crash.
DeCrescenzo says this isn’t the first time his house has been hit with a car. He hopes insurance will help him put his house back together, but without interventions on these roads, he’s worried this will keep happening.
In a statement, Fort Lauderdale officials say they coordinated with Broward County on signalization improvements and added speed cushions on Northwest 7th Avenue to slow drivers to the posted speed limit of 25 mph between Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 13th Street.
"The City has also applied for a grant through the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) for additional safety improvements. In light of this most recent crash, we are checking with the MPO on the status of our grant application and will look at additional safety measures that may be needed," the statement read.
