Man wanted by police after crashing a stolen vehicle into a Carbondale house
CARBONDALE, IL (KBSI) – Police are looking for a suspect that crashed a stolen vehicle into a residence on South Forest Avenue, on November 16, 2024. The suspect was described as a white man who, at the time, was wearing a white t-shirt.
The rustling autumn leaves outside the Carbondale residence match the color of the red-orange flames that left smoke stains on the home.
A man driving a vehicle he reportedly stole from a parking lot on the 900 block of West Main Street, crashed the vehicle into a house on South Forest.
Neighbor Kathy Livingston said she was home when the crash occurred.
“My husband and my friends and I were sitting out in our yard and we heard the squealing of the tires and then the crash,” Livingston said. “We came down towards this way and saw the flames shooting up on the side of the house.”
Carbondale police deputy chief Anthony Williams said the people who lived there made it out safely but had to find another place to stay because of the extensive damage to the house.
“The firefighters had to come and extinguish the blaze, but that blaze caused — obviously — damage to the car, damage to the house, and of course, the water damage that unfortunately comes with that,” Williams said.
According to Williams, the car was stolen just minutes before crashing into the residence. Reportedly, the victim saw his vehicle being stolen from a parking lot and tried to chase after the car on foot before later hearing a crash.
“It all happened very quickly,” Williams said.
The tire tracks from the vehicle swerving from the road onto the grass and into the home are still visible.
“I’m just really, really relieved that no one was hurt in this,” Livingston said.
Police say the suspect, described as a white male wearing a white t-shirt, took off on foot after the crash.
They encourage anyone with information about the incident to call the Carbondale Police Department or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line. You can find more information here.
