Woman who crashed into Springdale townhouse charged with risking catastrophe, DUI

Springdale police have filed charges against the woman who crashed her SUV into a Springdale townhouse and sheared a gas meter Saturday.

Kellie McCalmont, 56, of Springdale is charged with felony causing or risking a catastrophe and misdemeanor DUI.

Court filings also show her charged with leaving an unattended child in a vehicle, but Springdale Police Chief Derek Dayoub said that charge was made in error.

Dayoub said it would be updated to a summary reckless driving charge.

On Saturday, police responded to reports of a car crashed into an apartment building in the 800 block of Walnut Street, directly adjacent to the Springdale Borough Building and police station.

According to a criminal complaint filed against McCalmont, officers evacuated the building because the vehicle had severed a main gas line, causing a leak.

When police confronted McCalmont, who had stayed on scene, officers said she slurred her speech and seemed confused about the accident, according to the criminal complaint.

McCalmont could not spell her name or offer her address or the date, officers said. She reported that she’d passed out before getting out of the SUV after noticing the accident, the complaint said.

Police reported she had dilated eyes and acted out toward medical staff.

At UPMC St. Margaret, officers obtained blood to test for potential DUI charges, but Dayoub said the toxicology report is still pending.

According to a resident of the building who did not offer his name, the SUV came down Walnut Street from James Street, toward the borough building. He saw the SUV turn right between his building and a garage, but turned late or wide, hitting part of the apron of the garage before accelerating between the buildings and hitting the back of the townhouse.

The man said he narrowly avoided being struck.

Though most residents of the townhouse have since returned to the their homes, Springdale fire Chief Dan Copeland said the unit occupied by sisters Maria Willison, 71, and Madeline Dembowski, 76, was deemed to be uninhabitable.

He said the unit sustained “tremendous damage.”

Speaking at the scene Saturday, Willison said she saw the front wheel of the vehicle come through the wall of her home. When the sisters smelled the gas, they fled the townhouse, where they’ve lived for 28 years, she said.

The Red Cross was contacted to help them, Copeland said.

No date has yet been set for McCalmont’s preliminary hearing, and court documents didn’t list a defense attorney.