The Kewanee police and fire departments responded to an accident in the 300 block of East McClure Street on April 1. A car veered off the roadway and struck a residence. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

A car, traveling at an unknown speed, struck a house in the 300 block of East McClure Street sometime after 8 p.m. Monday, April 1, leaving a hole in the home’s east exterior wall.

According to one officer on the scene, the car reportedly swerved and struck a utility pole a block east of the house before going back onto the roadway and veering off again to hit a residence belonging to Frances Newman.

A utility pole was struck by a vehicle on East McClure Steet before coming to rest in the side yard of a residence in the 300 block. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

The accident is being investigated by the Kewanee Police Department, although the Kewanee Fire Department was on the scene to ensure the situation was safe. Ameren was called in because the vehicle struck the house’s gas meter and damaged the home’s generator.

The exterior of a house in the 300 block of East McClure struck by a vehicle shows a gapping hole. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

Mrs. Newman said she was eating a snack and watching television when the car hit her home.

“I was sitting there minding my own business,” she said. “I thought it was thunder.”

The interior living room of Frances Newman is a favorite spot of her cat, Violet. A vehicle struck the home sometime after 8 p.m. on Monday night. [Photo by Susan DeVilder]

But Mrs. Newman realized it wasn’t thunder and that something had struck her home. Although she was shaken, she was able to call the emergency number and report the incident.

The name of the driver of the vehicle is unknown, but the car has Mississippi license plates. A female on the scene claimed to be the owner of the car but said she wasn’t operating her vehicle when it struck the residence.

Mrs. Newman was with her nephew who was staying with her at the time and gathered items in preparation to leave. The location where her house was struck was a favorite perching spot for her cat Violet and she said she was grateful that her cat wasn’t sitting there at the time.

Damages to the house for both interior and exterior repairs could range upwards of $15,000 according to one person on the scene.

Police were investigating the route the car took before striking Mrs. Newman’s house and coming to rest in her side yard. The name of the driver is unknown at this time.

More information will be provided when it becomes available.