LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A family is speaking out after being seconds away from tragedy when a car came barreling through backyards in Groveland.
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Police said a Tesla crashed through fences into the back porch of a home and then caught on fire.
The Tesla drove up on the sidewalk, hit a tree, traveled through the backyards and crashed into the corner of a porch.
According to the police report provided by a homeowner, the driver of the Tesla, crashed into the corner where, just moments before, the Hotchkiss family’s son was standing.
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“My son and I were just playing out here like we do every day,” said Kelsey Hotchkiss. “My 4-year-old asked for lunch, so thankfully we walked inside. Less than a minute later, maybe 40 seconds, my hands were still on the fridge door (and) there was a very loud sound.”
That sound was from the car smashing into the Hotchkiss family’s back porch, which “all engulfed in flames very quickly,” Hotchkiss said. “We actually found some of our steps that were leading to that door in Jeff’s back yard. Literally over the fence that’s how fast that impact was.”
The residential area is 25 MPH. Groveland police said the driver was speeding before the crash, but couldn’t confirm how fast they were going.
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This isn’t the first wreck to happen on Maravilla Way. A car flipped in the same area back in October.
The city manager has called for a task force to address the issue.
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