Southgate man’s property hit by speeding driver for the 4th time in just over 10 years

Southgate man's property hit for the fourth time in past 12 years

In Southgate a speeding driver made a mess in a homeowner’s backyard - and he says crashes into his home or yard happen all too frequently.

SOUTHGATE, Mich. (FOX 2) - In Southgate a speeding driver made a mess in a homeowner’s backyard - and he says crashes into his home or yard happen all too frequently.

Police say the driver — who was under the influence — smashed through a fence, destroyed part of the yard, and tried to escape.

"From the way this looks: He came in this way, and he ran into this guardrail," said Jessie Gholston. "He ran into this fence right here, and the guardrail was behind."

Jessie Gholston walks us through a pain he’s experienced far too often — his backyard getaway destroyed by a driver, who veered off old Goddard in Southgate Tuesday night.

FOX 2: "What did that boom sound like?"

"Boom - I hate to say it like that, real hard," he said. "He hit it real hard. Truthfully, that’s what got me up. I heard the boom. As I came closer, I heard crack, crack, like he’s taking it out purposely, which I don’t think it was."

Gholston says the driver tried to keep going, but police later stopped and arrested him.

The Southgate Police Department says the suspect had a court hearing Wednesday and bonded out of jail.

FOX 2: "I can imagine you don’t want to move?"

"No I don’t, I love my home. I love my neighborhood," said Gholston.

But Jessie Gholston says it’s is the fourth time a driver has hit his home in the past 12 years.

The multi-color bricks on the house are a reminder of the last incident.

"This wall here from the last impact, it ripped this wall out," said Gholston. "That spa right there. It was a different spa of course, but it was in the kitchen."

"I appreciate y’all coming. I don’t know what to say. Because I’ve fought with the city, I’ve fought with the county. One put it on one, and one put it on the other."

FOX 2: "If the city or county were to help, what would you like for them to do?"

"They’re going to have to do something about that curve," he said.

We spoke with the city manager on Thursday, who said both the city's mayor and a crew from Wayne County are looking into what happened and what can be done about the road.

Gholston is insured. He says the past three crashes cost him a total of $100,000 in repairs.