BEAVERTON, Ore. — Two street racers crashed into a home, starting a house fire early Monday morning in Beaverton, the Washington County Sheriff's Office reported.
The crash happened around 1:15 a.m. in the area of Southwest 167th Avenue and Division Street in Beaverton.
The two cars were driving west on Southwest Division Street toward 167th Avenue. One of the cars crashed into the front of the home and the other car crashed into the garage, hitting an SUV that was parked inside.
"I was asleep and I just heard an explosion," neighbor Debbie Hauth said. "I saw the flames through the blinds in the bedroom."
Investigators say the impact of the crash inside the garage started the fire, which spread quickly to the house.
Two people were inside the home, but firefighters were able to get them out safely.
"They are very shaken up, but they were OK." Hauth said. She said her neighbors stayed with her for a few hours until a friend came and picked them up.
A cat was found dead inside the home and a dog was taken to a local animal hospital.
One of the drivers, 23-year-old Andrez Velasquez, of Beaverton, was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail. A 23-year-old female passenger inside the car was injured but is expected to survive. Velasquez faces the following charges:
- Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII)
- Reckless driving
- Third-degree assault
- Second-degree criminal mischief
- Reckless Endangering (3 counts)
The other driver, 21-year-old Amaya Espinoza, was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital. She was issued a criminal citation for the following charges:
- Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII)
- Reckless driving
- Second-degree criminal mischief
- Reckless endangering (2 counts)
Hauth said the intersection at SW 167th and Division has caused numerous problems.
"It's just crazy, people don't stop. They cut the corner, It's just not a good one," she explained.
Investigators from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the interagency Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Team all responded to the scene.