A quiet residential street in Central Islip on Long Island was shaken early Sunday morning when a vehicle crashed directly into a family home, leaving residents stunned but thankfully unharmed. Authorities say a 30-year-old woman, identified as Estefany DeJesus, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after allegedly losing control of her vehicle and plowing into the house. The dramatic incident unfolded while the family inside was asleep, turning an ordinary night into a frightening and chaotic experience for everyone in the home.
Police say the crash occurred shortly after 2 a.m. near the intersection of Birchgrove Drive and Nostrand Avenue. According to investigators, DeJesus was driving a BMW along Birchgrove Drive when she lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off the roadway, crashed through the front of a residential home, and ended up inside the structure just feet away from a bedroom where one of the residents had been sleeping. The violent impact caused significant structural damage and startled the family members who were inside at the time.
Inside the home were several residents, including children, many of whom had been asleep moments before the crash. The sudden sound of shattering glass and the force of the vehicle bursting into the house created a terrifying situation for the family, who struggled to process what had just happened. Despite the destruction caused by the crash, no injuries were reported, something the family later described as a miracle considering how close the vehicle came to occupied rooms.
A Violent Impact Shatters the Night
Residents Johana Moreno and her sister Selina were among those inside the house when the vehicle crashed through the front of the building. Johana described the moment of impact as sudden and explosive, recalling how the window near her bedroom shattered violently when the car struck the home. The crash occurred just a few feet away from where she had been resting, a proximity that made the experience particularly terrifying for her and other family members.
Selina recalled the confusion and panic that followed the loud crash. Her husband was among the first to react when he heard the powerful bang that echoed through the house. Realizing that something serious had happened, he immediately urged Selina to call emergency services. The shock of hearing that a car had crashed into their home left the family struggling to understand what had just taken place in the middle of the night.
At the time of the incident, nearly everyone in the house had been asleep, including six children who were living in the home. The youngest child was only two months old. The presence of so many sleeping residents made the crash particularly alarming, as the outcome could have been far worse if the vehicle had penetrated further into the structure or struck one of the bedrooms directly.
Read : Lava Flow Engulfs Road as It Advances Towards Coastal Town After Volcano Eruption in Iceland
The violent entry of the car into the home left broken glass, debris, and significant damage throughout the front portion of the residence. Windows were shattered and parts of the structure were damaged as the vehicle pushed its way inside. Family members scrambled to make sense of the situation and ensure that everyone inside the house was safe while emergency responders were on their way.
Driver’s Actions After the Crash
According to the family, the situation became even more chaotic after the initial crash. Selina said that the driver appeared distressed and confused following the collision. At one point, the driver allegedly pressed the accelerator again rather than reversing the vehicle, causing the car to move even further into the house. This unexpected movement added to the panic as the family attempted to understand what was happening and keep the situation under control.
Read : Jessica T. Hughes Charged in Crash That Killed 20-Year-Old Rylee Hanson
Selina said the driver was shouting and appeared extremely upset in the moments after the crash. She reportedly told the family that her boyfriend had been following her before the incident occurred. While the exact circumstances surrounding the claim were not immediately clear, the driver’s emotional state and the chaos of the moment made the scene even more difficult for the family to manage.
Selina recalled trying to calm the driver as tensions ran high in the aftermath of the collision. The priority for the residents was ensuring the safety of everyone inside the home while waiting for emergency services to arrive. With children present and significant damage to the structure, the situation remained tense until authorities reached the scene.
Police later identified the driver as Estefany DeJesus. Following an investigation at the scene, she was taken into custody and charged with driving while intoxicated. Authorities said that alcohol was suspected to have played a role in the crash, though further details about the circumstances leading up to the incident were not immediately released.
A Narrow Escape From a Much Bigger Disaster
While the crash caused substantial damage to the house, the family believes the situation could have ended far more tragically. At the time of the crash, the home was undergoing renovations, particularly in the kitchen area. As part of the remodeling work, the gas stove had been disconnected and removed, leaving the gas line exposed but inactive.
Selina explained that the vehicle crashed near the area where the kitchen renovation was taking place. During the impact, a gas pipe in the home was bent as a result of the force of the collision. If the kitchen had been fully operational with the gas line connected, the crash might have triggered a dangerous gas leak or even an explosion.
The family later reflected on how fortunate they were that the renovation work had temporarily disabled the kitchen appliances. In their view, the disconnected stove and inactive gas supply may have prevented a much larger disaster. Given the number of people inside the home at the time, including several young children, the potential consequences could have been devastating.
Emergency responders and police officers assessed the damage to the home after the crash, ensuring that the structure was safe and that no gas leaks or additional hazards were present. Although the house suffered significant structural damage, the fact that no one was injured was considered remarkable by both the family and authorities.
In the aftermath of the incident, the family expressed gratitude that everyone inside the home survived the frightening experience. Selina acknowledged that while repairing the house would likely take time and effort, the most important thing was that no lives were lost or seriously harmed.
For the residents of the home, the crash served as a reminder of how quickly a routine night can turn into a dangerous situation. While the property damage can eventually be repaired, the emotional shock of having a vehicle crash directly into their home is something the family will not soon forget. As Selina later reflected, material things can always be replaced, but the safety and lives of the people inside the home matter far more.