NASCAR action was nothing compared with careening car

One minute a 73-year-old man was watching a race. Then a car came plowing through his living room.

By JANE MEINHARDT

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 4, 2000

LARGO -- Rexford Hance knows all about hitting the wall.

The 73-year-old man was sitting in his tan recliner watching a NASCAR race when a car smashed into his house Sunday afternoon.

"It knocked me out of the chair, and I hit the wall about the same time they did at the NASCAR race," he said Monday. "It was something."

The out-of-control car plowed through the front of the house, slammed into Hance's chair in the living room and blasted out rear sliding glass doors to the back porch, coming to a stop on the patio.

The 3:30 p.m. accident caused extensive damage to the house, 12612 116th St. N, but Hance was not injured.

"I was just sitting there, watching the racing," Hance, 73, said. "I got knocked out, but just momentarily. I was on my knees against the wall."

Police identified the driver of the Chevrolet Caprice as Janet Catchpole, 85, of Largo. She was treated at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater and released.

Catchpole, who could not be reached Monday, was cited for careless driving, police said.

She indicated to investigators that she had trouble with the brakes on her car as she headed west on 126th Avenue N, which dead-ends at a stop sign at 116th Street. Hance's house is across from the stop sign.

Without stopping or slowing, witnesses told investigators, the car went through the intersection and up into Hance's front yard. The Chevrolet hit the front of the house, scattering pieces of concrete blocks and drywall.

"I thought it was a plane crash," Hance said. "I heard this motor roaring and then the next thing I knew, I was on my knees."

Like a bulldozer, the car pushed a pile of crushed tables, chairs and other debris in front of it, slamming into his chair. The chair was knocked into a rear corner of the house.

Shattered concrete blocks, glass shards and plaster rained on Hance. He staggered over to the car. The ignition was on.

"The woman driving was sort of incoherent," Hance said. "I reached in and turned the key off. Then all the paramedics were here."

Hance and his wife have lived in the house, which is insured, for 20 years. No damage estimate was available Monday. Engineers, contractors and other officials prowled around the house, marveling at the damage.

With the scattered debris and twisted metal studs, the interior looked as if a bomb had gone off. Firefighters nailed sheets of plywood over the holes in the front and rear of the house.

"I'm not ready to do a whole lot, but I'm okay," said Hance, as he looked at the damage. "It's still hard to believe."

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