Euclid home hit by reckless driver, residents request safety barrier

EUCLID, Ohio - Randall and Linda Bergeon were startled by what they thought was a loud explosion this past weekend. Later, they discovered it was actually a truck that slammed into the front of their Euclid home.

Randall Bergeon said he watched the driver of the truck leave the scene, but minutes later the driver was arrested by Euclid police and taken into custody.

Linda Bergeon told NewsChannel5 the collision caused $30,000 in damage to her home, and said this isn't the first time a driver failed to stop at the intersection of Miami Road and Sagamore Drive.

"We've had people slide up on the grass, people come halfway up on the grass," said Linda. "But we've never had anyone come all the way through."

According to police, the driver of the 1997 Dodge Dakota was Jason Sundblom, 22, of Willowick. Police said they believe alcohol played a role in the crash, and have so far charged Sundblom with failure to control his vehicle.

Randall Bergeon showed NewsChannel5 how the impact came within inches of hitting the home's main natural gas line.

"We had Dominion come out and check for leaks," said Bergeon. "They said if that would have gone, I wouldn't have been here to give this interview."

The Bergeon's contacted Euclid City Hall hoping the city would split the cost to put up some type of safety barrier in front of their Miami Road home, however the Bergeons, and others in the neighborhood, report officials in Euclid have so far refused.

"A $2,000 barrier versus all the damage people could have on their houses, and life lost also, that's my concern," said Linda Bergeon.

NewsChannel5 contacted Euclid City Hall about this case, and spoke with the Euclid Law Director. The law director promised he would discuss the case with the mayor, and the Euclid Street Department.

The NewsChannel5 Troubleshooter unit will follow-up on this developing story.

Meanwhile, Randall Bergeon hopes a barrier will be set-up so he can sleep a little easier at night.

"We used to joke when we'd tell people where we lived, that would come over who had never been to our house," said Bergeon. "We'd tell them if they didn't stop at the stop sign, they'd end up in our house."

"But now It's not a laughing matter, because it actually happened."