Local Top Stories

90-year-old Driver Slams into Hawaii Kai Home

By Ron Mizutani

The father of a Hawaii Kai teenager says someone was watching over his son Wednesday. Al Garcia was watching television when he heard a thunderous boom and felt his entire house shake. When he ran downstairs to investigate -- he saw a car inside his son's bedroom.

19-year-old Evan Garcia was asleep when a Honda driven by a 90-year-old woman came crashing through the wall.

"I heard the boom like the whole house went fall apart everything just came crashing through," said Al Garcia. "I ran downstairs in my son's room -- he's was pinned between the bed and the wall."

Garcia panicked as he scanned the room. "I was really hysterical -- I was yelling Evan Evan --then he popped up his head and I felt relief."
Evan was taken to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition...the 90-year-old driver in stable condition.

"She admitted that she thought she was hitting the brakes but instead of hitting the brakes she hit gas pedal," said Garcia. "The area where she went through, that's where my three boys watch movies -- I can imagine if they were home -- I would have lost my boys. You never think it would happen to you but it does."

As Garcia braces his home his thoughts drift to the elderly driver.
"I not discriminating against anybody, I don't think anybody should be driving over 70 and I feel I could have lost my son today," he said. "It really has to be addressed and I hope somebody for the legislature look at this and think maybe it could happen to you too."

He's thankful his nightmare didn't end tragically.
"Thank God that somebody was watching over us," says Garcia. "Evan is a good boy and I just cannot even imagine losing him -- it would break my heart."

Garcia says before his son was taken away he told his dad I'm okay.

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