KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Belton man faces two charges in connection with crashing a vehicle into a house Thursday and injuring an 8-year-old girl.
The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that Cory Lionel Palmer Hansen has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident — a felony — and driving while suspended, a misdemeanor.
"We're just sitting there and I heard an engine roaring, screaming, and then a loud explosion," said Greg O'Connor, who lives in the house that was struck.
Around 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Hansen allegedly crashed a vehicle into a residence in the 500 block of Colbern. 41 Action News spoke to the landlord, Daniel Arnautob, who said he hopes to have the home fixed and livable for the family within a month.
O'Connor said he and his wife and their six children were home at the time. An 8-year-old girl, Lola, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after O'Connor said she was having trouble breathing.
"She says she was on her bed and the truck impacted her bed," O'Connor said. "It pushed her bed through the dining room and into the hallway through the wall."
Belton Police said Hansen was driving over the 25mph speed limit when he crashed through fence and into the home across from Belton Middle School.
"I didn't see it all," O'Connor said. "the boys were sitting on the edge of the couch, so they said they saw two people jump out of the truck after they were trying to back out of the house and then they bailed."
Hansen had a $25,000 bond and could face additional charges “as more evidence is processed,” according to the Belton Police Department.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the family with Lola's medical expenses and necessities while they are displaced from their home.
