Palm Bay firefighters rescue boy after car crashes into home

Woman charged with DUI, leaving scene of accident

PALM BAY, Fla. – Palm Bay police rescued a boy who was trapped in the wall of a home after a vehicle crashed into it overnight.

Paige Elizabeth Oak, 50, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence in the crash on Dallam Avenue.

Next-door neighbor Cornel Chambers says Oak ran over the mailbox, drove into the front yard and crashed into the house, trapping a 10-year-old boy.

"Her erratic driving, she had to be on something," said Chambers.  "Me and my kids were in bed sleeping and next you know, you hear a big, loud bang."

Chambers says after the initial crash after midnight, he got up and watched Oak continue driving recklessly.

"She gunned it and shot across the street, into our other neighbor's yard, and hit her vehicle and then bounced off of that vehicle and got stuck in a trench," said Chambers.

The home neighbors say Oak initially hit has $50,000 in damage.

The man living there says he was getting ready for bed and turning off the light to his fish tank, when the car came crashing through.

He did not want to go on camera but he says his son is OK.

Police say the boy was calling for help when emergency crews rescued him.

Officers said the front of the home was caved in and they heard the boy saying, "help me."

Palm Bay firefighters rescued the boy, who was trapped under part of the front wall.

"My neighbor's son was in bed, and we know that's his bedroom right here.  So we were so glad to hear he wasn't hurt," said Chambers.

Oak was arrested after police say she walked away from the scene.

[WARNING, content may be graphic: 911 call ]

When police caught up to her, officers say she told them she had a few drinks at a local restaurant but did not remember crashing into anything.

She was taken to the county jail.
 


About the Author:

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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