Published: January 19, 2009 11:10 pm      

2 SUVs skid into home in 2 weeks

Timothy and Kristie Gerber are understandably nervous when the weather turns bad and the roads turn icy.

The couple were sitting in the living room of their Franklin Street home Sunday watching the Steelers game when the house rocked.

“It sounded like an earthquake,” said Timothy Gerber, 31. “It shook the house.”

The driver of an SUV had lost control on icy Hystone Avenue, and the vehicle skidded across Franklin and into the house.

“She caved in part of the wall of the house,” Gerber said.

The driver was shaken but unhurt.

No one inside the home was injured, but Gerber said he has good reason for concern.

“This is the second time it’s happened in two weeks,” he said.

The first time an SUV driver lost control on the same steep road, and the vehicle skidded across Franklin and into the front porch.

“It jumped a 6- to 8-inch curb and into the house,” Gerber said.

“I’ve lived here for seven years, and this is the first time this has happened.”

Now the Gerbers are asking Ferndale officials what can be done to keep their house safe in winter.

Operating three trucks, borough officials have prided themselves seeing that roads – especially Hystone – are plowed and salted, Councilman Jim Rigby said.

“After the main roads, Hystone is a priority,” Rigby said.

“We hit it very heavy with salt just because it’s such a steep hill.

“We had a truck down yesterday (Sunday),” he said. “It put us a little bit behind.”

Gerber and neighbors say motorists drive too fast when the roads ice up, and Hystone should be avoided in bad

weather.

“People shouldn’t be coming down that hill fast. It’s common sense,” said a neighbor, who asked that his name not be used.

“Somebody’s going to get killed.”

Rigby said he will meet today with his road crew about maintaining Hystone.

The Gerbers, whose children catch the school bus in front of the house, said they plan to ask Ferndale Area School District officials to relocate the bus stop.

“The bus stop is right out in front of the house,” Gerber said.

“I’m nervous.”