Driver arrested after crashing into Southeast Fresno home, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno Police said they arrested 21-year-old Salvador Sanchez on hit and run and robbery charges.

A Fresno family is without a home this morning after a car came barreling into their living room. Police say around 2 a.m. Thursday, the driver was headed north on Cedar when for some reason, the driver veered off Cedar and right into the home. The car was wedged inside the home and took out the living room, part of the kitchen and the family's Christmas tree they had just put up.

The family said they were sleeping when they woke up to the loud crash. One of the girls was trapped in her room because of the debris, but able to get help and get out.

One of the nearby residents described what they heard. "We were playing cards in the front room. And all you heard was a screech, for a second, a crash and a boom and a bunch of crashes... it was crazy. you could hear things falling apart after that," said Andy Fuentes, neighbor.

The vehicle, a gold Lexus, was badly damaged. No one was injured in the crash, but the house has been boarded up and the family is being assisted by the Red Cross.

Police said they later identified the driver as 21-year-old Salvador Sanchez. They say he ran from the scene immediately after the crash and was picked up by a dark sedan a short time later.

Police said, Sanchez called police, just after 5 a.m. Thursday morning, and said he had been at a party with his girlfriend when he discovered his car had been stolen. Police said Sanchez's girlfriend told them that she was not at a party with Sanchez and had no knowledge of the car being stolen.

Police said when Sanchez met officers to file a report of a stolen vehicle, he was arrested for hit and run and for an unrelated robbery.

Sanchez was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail.