Calgary police are investigating a hit-and-run in the community of Evanston this week that caused significant damage to two vehicles and a house. Homeowners Sherrie and Neil Sponagle say the collision happened at their home, located in the 100 block of Evansdale Way N.W., on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. “We were still sleeping,” Neil said. “None of us heard a damn thing.” “My kid is right above the garage door, and he didn’t hear a damn thing. It’s weird.” Video from the couple’s security camera shows a dark-coloured vehicle failing to navigate a turn and hitting garbage bins at the curb, before barreling into their driveway. The car collided with Neil’s parked truck on the couple’s snowy driveway, then crashed into their front attached garage. “Seeing the video … I was like, ‘No, this can’t be right, this can’t be right,” Neil said. “So, I get up off my couch right away, came out here in the garage, looked around and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ and I proceeded to say, ‘Well, I guess I’m not going to work today.’” “Initially, of course, I’m mad,” Neil said. “I’m very mad.” “But then I’m like, ‘Well, no one’s hurt thankfully. It could’ve been worse.’” The car, which the couple believes to be black BMW X5, can be seen in the video quickly reversing and driving away. The couple noticed debris on their driveway and found parts of the vehicle scattered in the snow. Included was a small black cap, made by BMW, with a serial number on it. After some research, they linked the vehicle to that of a 2011 BMW X5. A license plate isn’t visible in the video. “You can blame the weather, you can blame the roads, you can blame the way they are sanded, but in the end, it’s the person behind the wheel,” Neil said. “Someone knows something and we would just love to let this owner own up to their mistake,” Sherrie added. Sherrie’s Toyota Highlander was parked in the garage at the time of the crash and sustained serious damage to its front end. “My car was in the garage, and it took the brunt of most of the force,” she said. “And if it wasn’t in here, this car could have been in our kitchen.” “It could have been catastrophic,” Neil added. Two vehicles in less than 24 hours The couple’s bad luck didn’t end there. On Thursday evening, around 10:30 p.m., a second vehicle crashed into their front yard, sending their garbage can flying and destroying a large rock on their lawn. “Not even 24 hours later, we had a second vehicle come in the same route, and this time a young kid took out my rock at the corner of my driveway,” Neil said. He says the 17-year-old driver was apologetic and cleaned up the garbage. Then he drove home in his vehicle, which suffered some front-end damage. Though they have insurance, the couple expects it will be a costly repair. Between the garage and two damaged vehicles – both of which have been deemed undriveable – they anticipate costs will exceed $30,000. “First one, it’s hard to believe that someone could drive away from that,” Sherrie said. Anyone with information on the incident or dash-cam or CCTV footage is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
