Woman credits tree for saving her family from truck crashing into her home

Pickup, 1 other car were racing before crash, police say

SAN ANTONIO – A South Side woman said she has a tree to thank for saving her family from injury when a pickup barreled into their home early Friday.

Police believe racing was cause of two vehicle roll over, search for two drivers continues

The truck was one of two vehicles that police believe were racing shortly before 4 a.m. in the 1000 block of Division Avenue moments before they both crashed.

The pickup and the car left a path of destruction in their wake.

A sedan and pickup that were parked on the street are in shambles after being hit by the two out of the control vehicles. (KSAT 12 News)

The two vehicles hit another pickup and an SUV that were parked outside a home, knocked down two utility poles and knocked out electricity to more than 600 homes and businesses.

The truck then slammed into the side of Susan Ibarra’s home, leaving a big dent in her bathroom wall and hitting the wall of her son’s bedroom.

”Where it hit, it hit my son’s bed and it pushed it two feet back,” Ibarra said. “Thankfully, he was asleep in my bed.”

Ibarra said she believes it was thanks to a big tree on the side of her home that she and her family were spared from injury.

”Basically, the tree saved us. That’s what the fire department said, too,” Ibarra said. “If the tree wasn’t there, then it would’ve rammed the whole house.”

San Antonio police said it appears the two drivers were speeding, most likely racing, at the time.

CPS Energy employees assess the damage done to power lines and utility poles from the crash. (KSAT 12 News)

After the crash, the drivers managed to climb out of both of the wrecked vehicles and run away.

”This could have happened in front of my house. And I don’t feel safe anymore,” said Gracie Campos, who lives down the street.

Campos said she has been trying for months to call attention to what she sees as a problem with speeding cars in that area.

”It has become a drag zone. It’s crazy!,” she said.

Campos hopes someone will now pay attention and help to slow down traffic there.


About the Authors

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Tim has been a photojournalist and video editor at KSAT since 1998. He came to San Antonio from Lubbock, where he worked in TV and earned his bachelor's degree in Electronic Media and Communication from Texas Tech University. Tim has won a handful of awards and has earned a master's in Strategic Communication and Innovation from Tech as well.

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