MADISON TOWNSHIP — No one was seriously injured early Thursday morning when a car slammed into a vacant house, triggering a fire that destroyed the car and badly damaged the house.
The crash happened around 6 a.m. when a 2012 Nissan Altima crashed into the home at 1116 Hickory Lane, according to the Madison Township Fire Department.
Six people inside the car left on foot before emergency crews arrived and were later located nearby by troopers from the Mansfield Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, according to Trooper Randall Adkins.
The driver of the car, Miguel Cius, 35, who Adkins said was from the Columbus area, was cited for unsafe speed in the snowy, icy conditions.
(Above are Madison Township Fire Department photos from a 1116 Hickory Lane house fire that was triggered when a car slammed into the residence.)
Adkins said the car was traveling northwest on Hickory Lane and slid off the left side of the road and into the back of the residence.
Adkins said five of the six people in the car were transported to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital for minor injuries.
“We don’t think they had any intention to try to run away from the scene,” Adkins said.
The accident triggered a blaze that caused fire damage to 35 to 40 percent of the house and smoke damage throughout, Madison firefighters said.
The car caught fire after the wreck and the blaze spread through the house.
The blaze triggered automatic mutual aid from the Mansfield Fire Department and also the Mifflin Township Fire Department.
The fire, which started in the corner of the house, traveled into the attic and into the walls in the center of the structure, firefighters said.
Firefighters were on the scene for three hours, battling the blaze in the cold temperatures and snow.
Firefighters said 1-800-Boardup was called and will secure the structure.