HOUMA, La. — Sophia Ramirez, 14, was at her uncle’s house in Houma Tuesday afternoon, about to go outside to play with her younger cousins when the house shook.
“I felt something, like a tornado or something hit, and I was like, ‘whoa,’” said Ramirez.
Surveillance video shows why. A FedEx truck crashed into the home on Mary Hughes Circle, stopping just feet away from the front door.
“There’s a FedEx truck in the house,” said Ramirez. “That’s something you only see in a meme.”
Ramirez, several other children, and a couple of adults were inside. Thankfully no one was hurt and most of the visible damage is to the garage. After the crash, Ramirez says the FedEx driver knocked on the door.
“I see his uniform. It says FedEx. The man’s right there saying he didn’t do anything, that he just lost control,” said Ramirez.
Police say that man is Michael Smith, 31, of Houma.
“He stayed on scene. He never left,” said Police Chief Travis Theriot.
Theriot says when officers showed up, they suspected Smith was impaired.
“They could smell an odor of alcohol coming from his breath and he also had an open alcoholic container on his person at the time,” said Theriot.
Theriot says Smith failed a field sobriety test. Officers also found marijuana and the pain medication Tramadol in his possession. Theriot wasn’t sure if Smith was prescribed the medication.
Theriot says Smith resisted being put in a patrol car and then refused a breathalyzer at the police station. That led to a search warrant and a trip to the hospital so Smith’s blood could be drawn.
“The actual results take some time to come back and the test results will be presented at a later date,” said Theriot.
This family has only lived in the home for about a year and started doing renovations after Hurricane Ida.
“I was crying thinking about it,” said Ramirez. “All that hard work went to nothing.”
Seeing photos of what happened, Theriot is thankful for what didn’t happen.
“This could have potentially been a deadly situation,” said Theriot. “You have somebody that’s under the influence driving a vehicle of that size, that magnitude, that’s a wrecking ball coming through a neighborhood.”
FedEx released the following statement to WWL Louisiana.
“Safety is our top priority, and we are grateful no one was injured. This is intolerable behavior, and the driver is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx. We are cooperating with authorities, and any questions should be directed to local law enforcement.”
Smith is in jail in Terrebonne Parish. He faces a list of charges, including DWI, drug possession, and reckless operation of a vehicle.
Gallery: Photos of delivery van after crashing into home
Arrest records show Smith has been booked on the following charges:
- Resisting an Officer
- Driving While Intoxicated
- Reckless Operation of a Vehicle
- Prohibited Acts – Schedule IV (Possession)
- Possession of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles
- Possession of Marijuana
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