'Suddenly we hear an earthquake sound': Family speaks out after stolen van crashes into baby’s room
Two teenagers are now facing charges after a stolen van crashed into a home in east London, Ont. Tuesday evening.
Krishna and his wife Saiteja were enjoying a quiet evening with their 14-month-old daughter Anvika when their worlds were shaken, literally.
“And suddenly we could hear an earthquake sound,” said Saiteja. “Something like doom, like it was completely shaking the house,” she exclaimed.
A stolen delivery van had crashed into their home at the corner of Manitoba Street and Churchill Avenue.
It penetrated a brick wall and ended up partially inside their baby’s room.
It ripped the room apart, ramming the baby’s bed up against the opposite wall.
Fortunately, they were just outside the room so they were not hurt. They ran to see what had happened.
“It was cold outside, I didn’t even take anything for her,” explained Saiteja. “I covered her with my sweater and just came out and we saw that all the fence was broken, our wall is broken, there’s a car inside our house, and it was completely terrifying.”
Krishna said he was angry, but also relieved they were okay.
“We are glad that our family’s safe,” he said. “Because as you see, this is the wall. Just two metres away. They [were] just sitting on the sofa. I was sitting in that chair. This is the room [where] it happened,” said Krishna as he pointed to the chair he was sitting in just outside the room.
Police said that at about 5:50 Tuesday evening, a man reported he was robbed of his van at gun-point on Calgary Street. Police then received multiple reports of a vehicle striking houses and property in the area.
It hit the porch of a home on Spruce Street, tearing up the lawn in the process, and it was then seen driving across East Lions Park and doing spinouts in the grass.
It finally came to rest after it crashed into the family's home.
Neighbour Nick Lindsay was among a small group of neighbours who apprehended a suspect at East Lions Park, who was subsequently arrested when police arrived a short time later.
“He was running a little odd,” said Lindsay of male suspect. “I don’t know if that was from the crash or if he was on something. I asked him, ‘Where do you think you’re going bud?’ and he just kept saying like leave him alone.”
Cleanup is underway after a stolen van crashed into a London home on Feb. 27, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
Police said a second suspect was arrested nearby.
Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, who lives just steps away from where the mayhem took place, was upset by the events.
“Well I mean I’m literally standing right now on tire tracks left by this van,” said Lewis, standing just outside the front doors to the East Lions Community Centre. “You can see the playground behind me, how close this came to people who were here enjoying this facility. I mean, I’m so thankful that no one was hurt,” he said.
Police said the investigation has been assigned to the LPS Street Crime Unit.
A 17 year old and an 18 year old are facing multiple charges, including:
- Theft of a motor vehicle
- Armed robbery
The 18-year-old male has been additionally charged with the following offences:
- Pointing a firearm
- Breach of a recognizance
The 17-year-old male has been additionally charged with the following offences:
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
- Assault
- Resist arrest
As for Krishna and Saiteja, they’re just thankful they’re okay.
“If they were in that room and that should happen that time it would have been a fatal accident,” said Krishna.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6973608.1721691615!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
2nd woman found dead in English Bay: Vancouver police
For the second time in as many days, a woman's body was found near Vancouver's shoreline Monday.
2 Albertans accused of threatening to kill Trudeau, Freeland, Singh
Men from Edmonton and Calgary are accused of threatening to kill some of Canada's top government leaders.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.
Harris has support of enough Democratic delegates to become party's presidential nominee: AP survey
Vice-President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee against Republican Donald Trump, according to an Associated Press survey taken in the aftermath of President Joe Biden's decision to drop his bid for re-election.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
Toronto woman charged with voyeurism after taking 'intimate' photos during massage: police
A Toronto woman who allegedly took 'intimate' photos of an individual who was getting a massage has been charged with voyeurism, police say.
IN PICTURES Here's what Calgary's new event centre 'Scotia Place' will look like
The name of Calgary’s new event centre was unveiled on Monday. The arena will be called Scotia Place.
Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed
If you're trying to get up to speed on Vice President Kamala Harris' swift emergence as Democrats' possible nominee this fall, you really need to know your memes.
These are the four leading vice-presidential picks for Kamala Harris' campaign
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.