SUV crashes into Portland home, causing violent explosion with residents angry after 30th crash at property

An SUV crashed into a Portland home on Christmas Eve, sparking a massive fire at a property that has been the scene of nearly 30 car crashes in recent decades according to neighbors, with residents now calling for change.

The truck, out of control, hit a natural gas line, causing a massive explosion and a serious fire. KGW8

Authorities arrived shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve to put out the natural gas-fueled flames. KGW8

Portland Fire and Rescue responded to a massive fire after an out-of-control SUV crashed in front of a three-story building – ripping out its natural gas meter, according to KGW.

“When the car hit the gas meter, gas was naturally flowing from the underground pipe through the vehicle,” said Rick Graves, public information officer for Portland Fire and Rescue.

Officials say damage to the natural gas line led to huge flames, saying most of the damage was to the car and exterior walls of the building.

PFR claims the truck’s location actually diverted the building’s gas line, which fortunately avoided potentially worse consequences.

No injuries were reported. An Oregon resident escaped the home safely after the explosion and first responders provided oxygen to a cat at the scene, the outlet reports.

First responders provided oxygen to a cat found at the scene. No injuries were reported as a result of the accident. KGW8

The property, which was once a single-family home and is now a three-story, four-unit building, has been incredibly unlucky when it comes to car accidents, with residents fed up with the city failing to address the ongoing problem.

Next-door neighbor Mike Powers, who has lived in his Sullivan’s Gulch home for 30 years, tells KGW that he and his wife have documented 29 car accidents on the property.

Asked about the Christmas Eve accident, he said it looked like a bomb went off.

A sharp turn at an intersection on a residential road goes unnoticed by motorists who then hit the property with apparent regularity once a year.

Neighbors say a sharp turn, shown in the photo, has led to dozens of accidents on the property over the past three decades. KGW8

Another neighbor told the outlet that residents’ calls to resolve the problem fell on deaf ears.

“I think what’s most important here is for neighbors to come together and organize around the intersection,” Nels Pierson told KGW. “I know people have been fighting long and hard to change road design, and this is the time we need to do it. »

No information is currently available on the driver of the car.