Warwick homeowner: 'It felt like a bomb going off or something'

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — A Warwick man is picking up the pieces after a car crashed into his house Saturday night.

The driver was arrested and charged with DUI.

There wasn't much left of a fence and a yard at the home on Church Avenue in Warwick.

William Marshall was sitting in bed Saturday night with his two young kids when a car crashed into the side of their house.

"One of the neighbors did hear him pretty much gun the truck up on Church Avenue, so he obviously was getting up to high speeds over here to take out a pole and fence and hit a house," Marshall said.

Marshall said the impact of the car hitting the house was like nothing he's ever felt.

"The whole house shifted because the walls blew out in the house," Marshall said. "It felt like a bomb going off or something. I've never been near a bomb, but it was insane."

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Marshall said he immediately looked outside and saw the driver trying to get out of the car.

"The truck was full of alcohol," Marshall said.

Marshall said he called 911 and his neighbors chased after the driver.

Warwick police said the driver, 27-year-old Terry DiPetrillo, refused alcohol testing. He was charged with DUI and disorderly conduct.

Marshall said he's just thankful they were on the right side of the house when it happened.

"If we were sitting on this side of the house, we would have definitely gotten nailed," Marshall said.