Repeat DUI Driver Crashes into OC Home

A woman was hospitalized with minor injuries after a repeat DUI driver crashed his vehicle into a Costa Mesa home early today, authorities said.

The vehicle pierced the house to a depth of about four feet and ended up lodged between two occupied bedrooms, said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Patrick Wessel. The home is in the 1600 block of Myrtlewood Street.

Wessel said the woman who got hurt was hospitalized with minor lacerations, caused by flying debris from the car striking the house.

The owner of the house, Don Vanderwal, told KCAL he woke up to a loud noise.

"I thought it was this massive earthquake that hit and the house was falling apart," Vanderwal said.

Wessel said none of the other family members were hurt. The driver of the vehicle and his male passenger also escaped unscathed, Wessel said.     The driver was identified as Lawrence Smith, 26, of Costa Mesa, who was booked for DUI. Wessel said Smith had prior DUI convictions.

-City News Service