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SUMMIT COUNTY -- A 22-year-old woman was booked into jail early Saturday after police say she crashed her vehicle into a home while under the influence of alcohol.
According to Sgt. Nick Wilkinson with the Summit County Sheriff's Office, Cassie White of Park City was driving east on the 6400 block of Highland Drive around 1:30 a.m. when she couldn't navigate a turn and went off the road. Wilkinson says her silver Volkswagen Jetta hit a dirt pile, launched into the air and traveled more than 200 feet before smashing into the living room and garage of the home.
"There is a complete hole in the wall," said Wilkinson. "There was tens of thousands of dollars in damage to the home."
Wilkinson says speed and alcohol were both contributing factors in the crash. Pieces of the car were scattered along the flight path. A piece of the bumper actually ended up on the roof.
If it had been a different set of circumstances and collided with the family's bedroom, it definitely would've turned out different.
–Sgt. Nick Wilkinson
The family who lives at the home was sleeping when the loud, booming crash woke them up. They had no idea what it was until they saw a car sticking through one of their walls.
"They were very lucky. Fortunately, the way the house was designed, the bedrooms were in the rear of the house," Wilkinson said. "If it had been a different set of circumstances and collided with the family's bedroom, it definitely would've turned out different."
The family says they know White and feel bad for her. They don't think she intentionally damaged their home. They say she has tried to stop drinking before, but don't know what happened to cause her to drink before the crash.
White was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and excessive speeding. She suffered a few cuts and bruises in the crash, but was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
The speed limit on Highland Drive is 35 mph, but investigators think White was going between 50 and 80 mph.
White also faces criminal mischief charges for damaging the back of the patrol car she was put in, as well as assault charges for attacking a health care worker at the hospital where she was taken.
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Story compiled with contributions from Alex Cabrero and Emiley Morgan.
