Juvenile fleeing police smashes into Bucks County home, causes 'catastrophic' damage

Home uninhabitable after teen crashes into it with vehicle

A 16-year-old Trenton boy crashed into a home in Bucks County while trying to flee police, causing "catastrophic" damage to the home.

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Police say a juvenile crime spree in Bristol Township ended with a vehicle crashing into a home, but luckily no one inside was injured.

What we know:

Bristol Township police say they arrested a 16-year-old from Trenton in connection with a stolen car smashing into a home in the Levittown section of the township overnight.

The gray house along the 400 block of Stonybrook Drive has a gaping hole in its front with sections of the wall shredded and hanging. It was a startling sight for Dave Matthews, the father of homeowner Grant Matthews, who was in his living room as a car came barreling in.

He explained the scene, saying, "He heard a big bang, and he didn’t know what that was. He got up to investigate and went down the hallway. He sees lights and there’s a car in the house."

Dig deeper:

It was a stolen car, say police, taken just a few houses away by the 16-year-old male from Trenton, New Jersey.

It all started when a barking dog alerted neighbors who say they saw on their Ring camera someone breaking into a vehicle out front. They called police while the suspect ran.

Police say "…one minute later" an officer arrived. Sergeant Jason Mancuso of the Briston Township Police said the officer, "…located a juvenile in the 400 block of Stonybrook Drive, activated emergency lights and the juvenile fled, not able to control the vehicle and crashed about two houses down."

He ended up causing "catastrophic" damage, according to police.

Chaotic scene:

Rescue and fire vehicles filled the street as homeowner Matthews was startled but not hurt. The teenager in the stolen vehicle was also not hurt and was arrested.

Police believe thieves are sometimes drawn to the community searching for unlocked cars and items to grab inside.

The home is uninhabitable with the water off, lots of repair work ahead and a dad who’s thankful. Dave Matthers said, "People take chances. They don’t realize what it could lead to. We’re glad it didn’t lead to anybody’s death or harm."