Wilmington man charged with DWI after vehicle crashes through yard and into house

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man is facing charges after police say he drove through a residential yard and crashed into the side of a home Tuesday evening.

According to the Wilmington Police Department, officers responded to a vehicle collision around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the 400 block of Maides Avenue.

Police identified the driver as 39-year-old Laron Eric Brown of Wilmington.

Investigators say Brown was traveling north on Maides Avenue in a sedan when he drove off the road and struck the front porch posts of a nearby apartment building. Police said the property was unoccupied at the time.

The vehicle then continued through the front yard of a home on Maides Avenue, hitting fences and other objects before crashing into the side of another residence.

Abdull Akbar, whose property was damaged, told WWAY he was about three blocks away when the crash happened and learned about it after receiving a call from his brother.

Akbar described the damage left behind as the vehicle traveled through his property.

“He knocked out all the posts in the apartments next door to me. Came through my side fence, and wiped out everything in my yard. Dug it up, and ended up in the side of the house down the street.”

Akbar said emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported the driver to a hospital. Police did not provide information about injuries in their release.

Brown was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and driving without an operator’s license, according to Wilmington police.

He received a $5,000 secured bond and was transported to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

Detention records show Brown was booked into the facility at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The extent of the property damage has not been determined.

Wilmington police say the investigation remains ongoing.