SAN DIEGO -- The driver who slammed into a University Heights apartment building is challenging the allegation that he was drunk when he first hit a parked car, then crashed into the kitchen of an apartment Monday night.
Just before 8 p.m. Monday, witnesses say Christopher Rogers smashed into a car parked in the 4100 block of Texas Street, then fishtailed into the apartment building. The SUV went right through a first-floor kitchen. The people who reside in that unit were out of town at the time. There were no serious injuries.
10News went to Rogers home to speak to him. When asked if he was drunk, he responded, "no," before quickly shutting the door.
All day Tuesday, crews worked to stabilize the building, which has seven apartments. The SUV was removed around 4 p.m. A tow truck removed the SUV about an hour later.
The water was turned back on Tuesday afternoon. The landlord hopes to have gas turned on by Wednesday.
"My first reaction was wow," said Trinda Millan, who's friends with the owner of the car that was hit. "I know how they feel."
Millan says it hits close to home because a drunk driver nearly hit her the day after Christmas.
"She was maybe four inches away from hitting me, and I'm a mom, and it would've been terrible if I would've been hit," she said.
Millan says the drunk driver bent her car door. She is now driving a rental car.
"So, I understand how those people feel, having their home plowed into," Millan said.
Millan hopes this crash will deter people from drinking and driving.
"People are celebrating more, they're drinking more, they're being more careless," she said.
Rogers was arrested on drunken driving charges.
