Taxi Crashes Into Home, Injures Man Sleeping in Bedroom

Driver took off on foot after the crash on the 1800 block of Gregory Avenue, police said

A 53-year-old man was in his bed early Monday morning when a taxi cab crashed through the front wall of his home in Glendale Heights, west of Chicago.

"My legs were pinned and I couldn't get out from underneath the cab," said homeowner Shawn Grisch.

Grisch, who was inside the home on the 1800 block of Gregory Avenue, got out with minor injuries and was taken to Adventist GlenOaks Hospital for observation after the 1:10 a.m. crash, said Richard Kurka, a battalion chief with the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District.

The taxi driver took off on foot after the crash, police said.

"All I know is that there is a big chunk of wall lying on top of me and I tried to get that off and I asked for help and he just sat there and just started at me," Grisch said.

Grisch said he walked away from the crash with a separated shoulder, a tear in his spleen and two cracked ribs.

“It doesn’t look like anything structural was affected, no load-bearing walls or anything. We have a board-up service on the way," Kurka said.

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The village’s building department was called to the scene.

The taxi’s driver fled the scene after the crash and had not been located as of 6 a.m.

Toni Diperte, who owns the taxi company that leased the cab involved in the crach, said the driver assigned to the cab was no on duty at the time of the crash. She said she hasn't been able to get in contact with the driver since the accident.

"He's a great driver," she said. "I have no idea what could have happened. I have no idea."

Police said it remained unclear if the driver assigned to the cab was behind the wheel during the crash.

Grisch remained in the hospital Monday afternoon and said he hopes the driver turns themselves in.

"It's the right thing," Grisch said. "That's the only thing to do. Do the right thing."

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