ELYRIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — It was a wake-up call that the Baus family never expected: a car crashing into their home early Friday morning.
"We heard an explosion and I came down and thought the gas fireplace had blown up," Bryan Baus said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after a 46-year-old woman died after crashing her vehicle into their home along West Ridge Road in Elyria Township a little after 1 a.m.
"The whole entire chimney is ready to cave," Linda Baus said. "Blew my entire fireplace out."
According to troopers, a 46-year-old woman was driving a 2005 Ford 500 south on West Ridge Road when she drove off the right side of the road and struck the home.
She was transported to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center, where she later died. Troopers said she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and it appears that speed and alcohol may have played a part in the crash.
For the Baus family, they hope this crash becomes a wake-up call for area leaders so they consider adding safety measures along this stretch of road.
The couple told News 5 it's the third time their house has been either hit or part of a crash has ended up on their property.
"Something needs to be done," Bryan Baus said. "We have so many cars go off the road. Our mailboxes, we had to move them off the right of way because they always get taken down."
"They need some kind of sign before the curve with a flashing light," Linda Baus said.
While the Baus family waits for repairs and some sort of safety change, there is hope hidden under the debris.
"Just very thankful that I still have my family," Bryan Baus said.
The Lorain County Engineer's Office confirmed to News 5 they plan to review the crash report to help determine if any safety changes should be made along this stretch of West Ridge Road.
