Residents awaken to Jeep crashing into house

Two residents of a home in the 2400 block of Hydrangea Street in St Augustine were awaken shortly after 2:00 a.m. this morning when a 2003 Jeep Wrangler came crashing into the house.

Historic City News reporters received word that the driver, 34-year-old Grant Ness who resides at 616 Casa Fuerta Lane in St Augustine Beach, was transported by Fire-Rescue to Flagler Hospital in critical condition.

Traffic homicide investigators with the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office have updated Historic City News with information that Ness had to be transferred to Shands Trauma Center in Jacksonville for further treatment.

Investigators say Ness drove through an intersection, glanced off a parked 2006 Toyota Pickup, and then struck the house. Ness was not wearing a seatbelt. The cause of the crash is still under investigation — but alcohol and speed are considered factors.

The point of impact was a bedroom, where the two residents, 36-year-old Brian Hubbel and 33-year-old Jennifer Lyles, were sleeping.

Hubbel and Lyles were both taken to Flagler Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.