TACOMA, Wash. — A family in Tacoma is looking for a new place to live after when a car rammed into their home, crashing into a child’s bedroom on Christmas Day.
"We're just like man, we've been here for so long, and now we're like, this isn't home anymore," said resident Tiffany Martinez.
Martinez said she is still in disbelief by an unforgettable Christmas night, when a car drove straight into her apartment, located in the 6600 block of South Tyler Street, and through the wall of her daughter's bedroom.
"The bottom half of the bunk bed, the whole car was in it,” said Martinez, pointing at the debris. “That's where my youngest would've been, if she was in here."
A home once filled with joy and happy memories is now filled with concerns.
"If [the kids] would've been in there, no one would've made it,” said Martinez about where the car crashed into their ground floor, corner apartment. “Literally just a few minutes before, I was putting their gifts in there."
Martinez and her girls were in the living room at the time of the evening crash, narrowly avoiding a Christmas tragedy.
Despite all the damage, the driver reportedly was uninjured and Martinez said he told her that he was sorry, before bolting from the scene.
"You check to see if everyone's OK,” said Martinez. “And then you just go, this is a big responsibility. It's more than just I'm sorry. Sorry is not going to fix this. Sorry is not going to give my child a bed. Sorry is not going to pay my bills.
The Tacoma Police Department is investigating what led up to the crash. Although the driver fled the scene, the car involved was left behind and detectives plan on contacting the registered owner of the vehicle.
While waiting for answers, Martinez said she considers it "a Christmas Miracle, that we're all here."
Martinez and her daughters are staying with friends and family as they look for a new home. Martinez created a GoFundMe page to help them during this difficult time.