Jacksonville, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman returned home Saturday to find a truck had crashed through the side of her house while she and her children were away, causing significant structural damage that stretched from the exterior wall all the way into the kitchen.
The crash happened at the intersection of Lem Turner Road and Duane Avenue in Northwest Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
Melanie Collazo, the homeowner, said she was out with family when she received an unexpected call from JSO.
“I was shocked at first. I was like, wait a minute, a car crashed into my house,” Collazo said. “Luckily, myself nor my kids were here at the time of impact.”
News4JAX reporter Ashley French was given access inside the home, where the damage was extensive.
The staircase to the second floor was blown inward and left exposed to the open air, making it impossible to reach the upper level of the home. The coat closet near the staircase had its back wall completely destroyed, with structural debris scattered throughout.
The damage extended into the kitchen, where indentations from the truck were visible on the walls, the refrigerator had been pushed from its position, and the stove was damaged.
Collazo said investigators told her the crash may have been caused by a medical emergency.
“They basically said that, according to witness statements, the driver might’ve had a medical emergency — because it seemed like he didn’t stop at all coming from the intersection,” Collazo said.
JSO has not officially confirmed the cause of the crash or the condition of the driver. News4JAX has reached out to JSO for comment and will update this story when a response is received.
Despite the extensive damage to her home, Collazo said her first concern was for the driver.
“I hope he’s OK. You know, this is materialistic. I wasn’t here. My kids weren’t here — so I hope he’s OK,” she said.
The crash carries additional weight for Collazo, who purchased the home in 2023 after years of active military service at Naval Station Mayport. It is her first home.
“Being active military, you don’t always have family wherever you’re stationed — so I feel very thankful and blessed right now,” she said, referring to the support she has received from family since the crash.
Collazo said she plans to contact her insurance company and is expecting an inspector to assess the structural damage.
“It’s a lot of structural damage — so we’ll see what the insurance and inspector say when they come out,” she said.
She and her children have a place to stay with family in the meantime.
News4JAX has reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for an official statement regarding the cause of the crash and the condition of the driver. This story will be updated once we learn more