LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville mother is calling for urgent action after a chilling crash was captured on her front porch security camera over the weekend. The footage shows a car hurtling through the air, slamming into a tree just feet away from where her daughter had been sitting.
Katelyn Tucker, who has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years, described the harrowing moment, saying it sounded “like a train roaring through” as the car lost control. According to Tucker, the driver hit another vehicle at the corner, causing the car to careen off the road. It struck a neighbor’s brick wall, became airborne, flipped, and crashed into a tree in front of Tucker’s home.
Louisville Metro Police confirmed that the 19-year-old driver, who was speeding and ran a stop sign, survived the crash. The driver has been charged with reckless driving and running a stop sign.
Tucker, visibly shaken by the close call, said this was far from the first crash in the neighborhood. “I’ve seen a lot — probably about ten,” she explained. “Some people have died, some got out and ran away, and others were trapped in the wreckage. Police had to pry them out. Cars have flipped… everything.”
In fact, the sidewalk in front of Tucker’s house, still littered with debris from previous accidents, serves as a grim reminder of the frequency and severity of these crashes. “That’s from the last wreck — and this one,” Tucker said, gesturing to the scattered remnants of shattered glass and twisted metal.
The neighborhood has been the site of even more tragic events in recent months. In February, Anna Maria Gonzalez was killed when her estranged boyfriend, Scott Drollinger, lost control of his truck while allegedly intoxicated. The truck skidded down the sidewalk for more than 100 yards, demolishing fences and crashing into everything in its path. Gonzalez, who was in the truck at the time, died as a result of the wreck. Drollinger was later indicted for her murder.
Parts of Drollinger’s truck still remain scattered along the sidewalk, a stark and painful reminder of the area’s ongoing safety concerns.
For Tucker and her neighbors, these repeated accidents have created a sense of urgency. “It’s too much,” Tucker said. “Something has to be done before someone else gets hurt or killed.”
Bill Bradley, who lives next door to Tucker, has witnessed similar property damage over the years, adding that the neighborhood has become increasingly unsafe due to reckless driving. “People drive way too fast here,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time before something worse happens.”
As concerns mount, residents are calling for traffic safety improvements in the area. Suggestions include the installation of speed bumps, better signage, and traffic calming measures to reduce speeding and improve overall road safety. Many believe that without such changes, the accidents will only continue to escalate, putting both lives and property at risk.
With tensions rising, the question remains: will local authorities take the necessary steps to address the growing safety issues in this Louisville neighborhood before it’s too late?
