Drunk driver crashes into house

A Ford pickup truck left Statesville Boulevard, climbed a 7-foot bank, tore through several small trees and bushes, before hitting a house on Sunday afternoon. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

The truck tore down several trees before hitting a house on Sunday afternoon. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

Christopher Coley and his mother live in the home that was hit by the truck. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

Ina Stancil was trying to help her son straighten up his room around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

After two or three days fighting flu-like symptoms, she felt a little better and thought she might do a little housework at their home at 3340 Statesville Blvd.

All of sudden, she felt the floor shaking. The whole house was vibrating.

"There was a boom," Stancil said. She was so shaken, she had to sit down. Her son, Christopher Coley, ran outside to see what had happened.

A Ford F-150 pickup had driven across the yard, plowed through a hedge, uprooted dogwood trees, struck the steps and rammed into the brick wall next to the room where Coley and his mother had been.

Pieces of the vehicle, a camper top and cargo from the pickup bed lay scattered all over the yard, along with Bud Light cans.

What happened next left Coley almost speechless.

The driver — who Coley said appeared drunk — got out of the truck and said, "Man, don't call the cops."

Then he asked if he could use the bathroom.

Coley agreed, figuring that would give more time for police to arrive.

The man also asked to use the phone to call a friend or relative.

But soon after the bathroom stop, the man decided it was time to leave. He took off walking along Statesville Boulevard.

More than two hours later, authorities arrested Jason Delaney Woodby, 33, of 3990 Statesville Blvd., Lot 6. After searching the area and bringing in a police dog, they found Woodby at his home.

Patrolman C.J. Doty of the N.C. Highway Patrol charged Woodby with driving while impaired, no operator's license, careless and reckless driving and failure to report an accident.

Doty said Woodby was driving the 1994 Ford pickup west on Statesville Boulevard.

The pickup, owned by Jason Woodby's brother, Jacob Woodby, left the road a short distance from the intersection of Statesville Boulevard and Gwynn Street, went off the right side and up an 8-foot embankment and crossed the front yard of one home before hitting the hedge, trees and house.

Doty didn't have an estimate of Woodby's speed Sunday and is continuing the investigation.

Doty left the accident scene to search for Woodby after receiving a report that he had been seen near his home.

He went to the trailer park, located Woodby's residence and banged on the door. No one responded.

Officer Brian Hodgson, the canine officer with the Salisbury Police Department, responded and went to the area where Woodby had last been seen — in the woods about a half-mile from his residence.

Doty said the dog immediately tracked to Woodby's mobile home.

When Woodby didn't come to the door, officers went in and arrested him.

Doty said Woodby's blood-alcohol content was .19.

Doty said Woodby denied being the pickup driver.

The pickup, which was extensively damaged, had been stored at Woodby's residence for several months but still had insurance.

Doty said the damage to the house was confined to the steps and front porch and trees and bushes.

Neighbors and family tried to comfort Stancil as she sat on the front porch, looking at the mess in her front yard and the row of emergency and law enforcement vehicles nearby.

Stancil wiped tears and was unable to shake the notion of what could have happened if the truck had crashed through the wall.

Doris Lee, a next-door neighbor, apologized to Stancil for not meeting her sooner.

She heard the crash and wanted to make sure everybody was OK.

Stancil said she has lived at the house for about a year. She rents from Willie Schaffer of Salisbury.

Schaffer, who had been notified of the mishap, called to ask how Stancil was doing, while family, including Lisa Fields, tried to settle her nerves.