Residents on Peoria Street, near Alaska Avenue in Aurora, are asking the city for assistance to safeguard their homes following a series of vehicle impacts. In the past year alone, at least five cars have crashed into properties, leading residents to believe that excessive speeding and reckless driving are turning their homes into targets.
Daniel Gelamichael’s property has been repeatedly affected, making the danger a personal matter for him. His experience was first highlighted by CBS News Colorado in May when a stolen car crashed into his garage. Unfortunately, this was neither the first nor the last incident for him.
“This has happened to me three times,” Gelamichael said. “I can’t even sleep. You don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
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After the second incident, a significant change was implemented. During the summer, Gelamichael invested $30,000 in installing a reinforced concrete barrier wall around his property.
“It was the only way to feel safe,” he said. “I had to do it. I didn’t have a choice.”
The concrete wall proved effective. At the end of September, a speeding car entered the neighborhood, struck the barrier, and was brought to a halt. Antonio Ortiz, a neighbor, reports that his own house has also been hit by vehicles.
“Just last week, there was another crash into the home behind us,” Ortiz said. “And a few years ago, another car hit our house.”
To help stop vehicles from crashing into their place, the Ortiz family put up a concrete barrier, complete with poured concrete and columns, behind their house.
“We did it for protection,” he said. “We’re scared. We’re thinking about the risk of what could happen to us if it happens again.”
Ortiz said his biggest concern is a car coming through a wall while someone is sleeping.
“My fear is them going into one of our rooms,” he said. “Causing a lot of damage or hurting someone.”
According to neighbors, speeding is the primary cause of the problem.
“They come flying down,” Gelamichael said. “I’m disappointed in the city. This keeps happening and nothing changes.”
Neighbors suggested speed bumps, more patrols, or additional traffic stops.
Residents are not asking for a complete solution, just measures to reduce the speed of vehicles before they reach their houses.
“Some kind of barrier would work,” Gelamichael said. “We just want to feel safe in our homes. That’s it.”
In a statement, the City of Aurora acknowledged the incidents, writing, “The city of Aurora is aware of last week’s crash near Peoria Street and East Virginia Place. According to the Aurora Police Department, a driver going northbound on Peoria Street lost control and struck a house. The driver was cited for careless driving, no insurance, and leaving the scene.”
They added, “The city is also aware of other crashes along this corridor. City staff will conduct a more detailed review of this area after the latest incident. Peoria Street is a four-lane major arterial with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. Public Works does not implement traffic-calming devices on major arterials, as these measures can conflict with the roadway’s primary function and affect congestion, emergency response, and maintenance operations. Staff will continue to evaluate recent crash data and determine if any engineering or safety measures are warranted.”
