By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Homeowner Lisa Hubal got the wake up call of a lifetime last Wednesday when a car crashed through her home in Yankton, South Dakota.
Police blame texting and driving for the extensive damage done to that Yankton home.
And the family that lives inside is now homeless.
Lisa Hubal said, "All of a sudden, I hear this horrific sound, the lights went out and it almost sounded like a freight train went through the house. And I'm running to the back of the house because my son was sleeping back there and there's a car where my bed should be!"
And her son, Damien, was thrown from his bed and left just inches from the front of the car. He walked away with just some bumps and bruises.
And now his bedroom is just a hole left behind by a 16-year old Yankton boy who police say, was texting and driving.
"I'm at a loss as to where to go. Because this was my home. You know, I'm not rich. I don't have the money saved up to say, oh well, we'll just get another place," said Hubal.
The young man responsible for this was cited for "reckless driving." South Dakota is one of only 11 states that does not have a texting and driving law.
Yankton Police Chief Brian Paulsen said, "Right now, I'm not aware of a really good texting law and that's just the problem. It's, how do we enforce it? Are we creating folks hiding even more so?"
This is the city of Yankton's second accident that police are sure was caused by texting.
While both have resulted in minor injuries, Chief Paulsen says it's only a matter of time until the injuries are much worse.
"The phone can wait. Definitely. And this should be a big wake up call to anyone who does that," said Hubal.
The Red Cross has temporarily placed Lisa Hubal and her 3 children at a nearby hotel.
Lisa says she's looking at rentals but having a hard time finding something she can afford.
