Homeowner recovers after Jeep slams into his house

A Broken Arrow family is thankful to be alive after a vehicle driven by a teenager slammed into their home over the weekend. <br/><br/>The stolen Jeep went through the back wall and through the home

Monday, October 31st 2005, 10:58 am

By: News On 6

A Broken Arrow family is thankful to be alive after a vehicle driven by a teenager slammed into their home over the weekend.

The stolen Jeep went through the back wall and through the home Saturday evening in Broken Arrow while a father, mother and their young son were inside. Police are looking for the 15 year old driver of the Jeep who ran away after the accident in the 1800 Block of West El Paso. Now the family living in the home is mending and rebuilding.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says at t first glance, you might think damage to Greg and Deborah Ray's Broken Arrow home was caused by severe weather, but it was something no one could predict or expect. Ed Ray: "You'd expect it would happen to somebody else, not your family."

An SUV driven by a 15 year old girl, jumped a curb, tore through a fence and slammed into the Ray's home at about 50 miles an hour. Ed Ray: "Through the bay windows, through their dining room, into the kitchen, and took the washer, dryer and refrigerator all into the garage."

Deborah and Greg Ray were in the kitchen. Their young son, who wasn't injured, was in the living room. Deborah's leg was injured, but not seriously. Greg Ray's injuries are the most severe. Gregâ€™s father Ed Ray: "Bruised liver, damage to his spleen, collapsed lung, broken ribs. One spot on his foot that was bad. Just cuts everywhere."

Despite the injuries and all of the damage, the family says they're thankful. They're grateful for the help they've received from neighbors and friends. And they're just glad the family was able to make it out of the home alive. Ed Ray: "Thankful more than anything. When you consider how bad it could have been. It was bad, but gosh they are still both here. All of them are here."

The teenage driverâ€™s name hasn't been released. Investigators in Broken Arrow say she was wanted in Sand Springs for arson and for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Now she'll likely be charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and leaving the scene of an injury accident.

The family will be out of their home for several months while it's being repaired.

Sand Springs Police say the parents of the 15 year old girl believe she may have just been an occupant in the vehicle and fear she may be injured. She's identified as Victoria Lyn Preibe [pictured].

If you have any information about her, call Broken Arrow Police at 451-8200 or Sand Springs Police at 244-8777.