An 81-year-old Fort Lauderdale woman’s home of more than 40 years was destroyed after a driver crashed a black SUV into the residence Thursday afternoon. Goldie Pitts returned from therapy to find police and fire rescue crews surrounding her house in the 2900 block of Northwest 13th Street. The crash occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m., according to Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue.
“I seen a big SUV and the side of my house, and I was rushing to try to figure out what was going on ‘cause the police and everyone was here and all I know is the lady was driving really fast and she ran into the side of the house,” Pitts said. “The driver was out, and they had her on a stretcher, and they were taking her to the hospital.” Firefighters found a woman inside the vehicle who was bleeding with a leg injury, officials said.
The driver was transported to Broward Health with non-life-threatening injuries. The person inside the house at the time of the crash was not injured, according to fire rescue officials. The impact tore through part of the den and laundry area, where family members say someone is often inside.
“People could’ve been dead, I could’ve been in the utility room washing,” Pitts said. “That’s what I would’ve been doing, washing my clothes to go to work tonight.” The crash left Pitts and her family without a place to stay, destroying decades of memories and belongings in the home she had lived in for over 40 years.
“It hurts to know we’re gonna have nowhere to sleep tonight, no home, something you’ve worked for all your life,” Pitts said. Friends, family and neighbors stepped in to board up the damaged area to protect what remained inside the residence. The structural damage appeared extensive based on aerial footage showing the SUV embedded in the side of the house.
A Broward County inspector will assess the structural integrity of the home to determine if it remains habitable. The American Red Cross will assist the affected residents with temporary housing and other immediate needs. The investigation into the cause of the crash continues, with further details not yet available from authorities.