Driver Distracted by Cell Phone Crashes into His Own Home

A 21-year-old driver distracted by talking on a cell phone lost control of the vehicle while pulling into his own driveway Monday afternoon, crashing into his home and severing the gas line on a neighbor's home, police said.

At 12:50 p.m., officers from the Menifee Police Department responded to the 27900 block of Red Dawn Drive in response to the report of a vehicle that had collided with and severed a natural gas main line. Fire personnel immediately requested evacuations of the residents and police closed the block to vehicular traffic. Fire personnel immediately recognized the broken line was actually a feed line into a home, however, and shut off the gas flow to the line. All residents were allowed to remain in their homes and the road was opened after only 10 minutes of closure.

According to police, the driver was arriving at home and talking on a cell phone when he entered his driveway too fast and lost control of his vehicle. The name of the driver was not released.

There was no structural damage to either home other than the broken gas line. Neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in this collision. There were no injuries as a result of this collision, police said.

The Menifee Police Department reminds the public that not only is it illegal to use a cell phone without a hands-free device, it may contribute to a collision. The investigation is continuing and anyone who may have witnessed the collision or may have further information is asked to call the Menifee Police Department Traffic Division at 951-210-1000.