HOBART | Emalea Smith and her mother, Vivian Allen, were inside their house Thursday when an SUV smashed into their front porch.
Both were unsure of what had happened until they looked outside their house at 1046 State St. and saw a vehicle with the driver slumped at the wheel.
"I've never experienced an earthquake before, but that's what it seemed like to me. Our hearts just dropped," Smith said.
The accident was reported to police at 12:14 p.m., Sgt. Jeremy Ogden said.
The driver, who police said was taken to St. Mary Medical Center, had possibly experienced a seizure before the crash, Smith and Allen said.
Ogden said the woman was at first unresponsive when police arrived. He said it's possible the driver had experienced a seizure but her condition wasn't listed on the report.
"And we were not given an update on her condition," Ogden said.
Allen said she and others tried to assist the driver, who was foaming at the mouth but trying to open her eyes.
When she regained consciousness, the woman apologized for her action, Allen said.
"I told her I didn't care. This (the porch) can be replaced but a life certainly can't," Allen said.
Allen estimated the damage to the front of her house, including the railing, doorway and cement stairs, in the thousands of dollars.
"I'm just worried about her (the driver). God bless her. It's Christmastime," Allen said.
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