Man talking on cell phone crashes through wall

A driver traveling northbound on La Canada Drive on Tuesday hit the center median and crossed into oncoming traffic, traveling about 500 feet before crashing through a brick wall and into a house.

The crash happened near the intersection of La Canada Drive and North La Canoa around 2:30 p.m.

The driver, a 19-year-old Sahuarita man, was thrown from his Jeep Wrangler before it crashed into the property, according the Pima County Sheriff’s report. He was taken to University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Witness Randall Maddox says the driver was speeding and talking on his cell phone.

“He was revving his engine at the stoplight and looked like he was in a big hurry,” said Maddox. The driver was going over 45 mph in a zone marked 40, according to the sheriff’s report.

Maddox says he was the first one on the scene and found the driver unconscious, lying face down in the dirt. “He probably bounced out of the car when it hit the curb,” he said.

Ronald and Barbara Mustain, who live in the Green Valley Country Club Vistas II community, say they weren’t at their 711 Avenida Cipres home when the accident happened, but returned to find several sheriff’s cars in front of their house and the driver’s Jeep smashed through one of their back rooms.

“Thank God, we weren’t home when it happened,” said Barbara.

The out-of-control vehicle hit a row of the Mustaines’ hedges and knocked over a light pole before it hit the house, damaging the exterior wall and furniture inside the house, they said.

A spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that no charges have been filed.

jrichardson@gvnews.com