A driving lesson took a wrong turn Wednesday night in East Naples when a car crashed into a Habitat for Humanity home. Greater Naples Fire Rescue and North Naples Fire responded to the scene in Vincent's Acres, a Habitat for Humanity community, where the car remained lodged in the side of the house.
The accident occurred when the homeowner's sister was learning to drive, accidentally hit the gas pedal, crashed into the neighbors bushes, and then into her family's garage. Fortunately, no one was injured. Firefighters temporarily braced the home to prevent it from collapsing.
Lisa Lefkow, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Collier County, expressed relief that the accident caused only minor damage and praised the structural integrity of the house.
“Fortunately, God has protected this neighborhood and these families,” Lefkow said. “The building inspector was impressed with the construction, saying the structural integrity was really good.”
A neighbor shared Ring camera footage showing the aftermath of the crash. He was sitting in his parked car next to the garage when the accident happened. He said it was very scary, but thankfully, he only walked away with some back pain.
The family of four, who put in their own sweat equity hours to help build their home, are now displaced. The Red Cross is assisting, and they are staying in a hotel until repairs are completed.
Lefkow expressed confidence that the repairs would be handled quickly, thanking the fire department for their swift response.
“They sent out their tactical team to brace the corner of the house. We were amazed by their quick actions,” Lefkow said.
The family is expected to return home once the repairs are complete.