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Driver Fled After Near-Miss with a House in North Omaha - What We Know So Far

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 9:31 GMT by KETV Omaha

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Driver Fled After Near‑Miss with a House in North Omaha – What We Know So Far

On the afternoon of March 3 — the exact date the incident was reported by local media — an unnamed driver was involved in a dangerous near‑miss that could have turned into a deadly crash on a residential street in North Omaha. According to the story published by KETV (the local CBS affiliate) and the accompanying police statements, the vehicle, a silver 2015 Ford Focus, was traveling northbound on 23rd Street when the driver abruptly swerved toward the curb, narrowly missing a single‑story brick house that sits on the property line with the intersection of 23rd and H Street. The crash left the homeowner’s garage door in disarray, the rear of the car dented, and a cracked window on the front door of the house.

The article immediately notes that the driver, a 27‑year‑old male from Omaha’s North Side, fled the scene in the same vehicle, heading eastbound on H Street before finally pulling over at the corner of 25th Street and H. Police officers who responded to the call observed the car parked with its engine still running and the driver sitting inside the passenger seat. When the officers approached, the man reportedly said, “I didn’t mean to hit it; it was just… I didn’t see the curb,” before being placed under arrest for a misdemeanor violation of traffic regulations (reckless driving) and leaving the scene of an accident.

The KETV piece also links to the official press release issued by the Omaha Police Department’s Traffic Division. In that release, Officer Daniel Baker, who was on duty that day, describes the incident in a bit more detail. He states that the driver was traveling at approximately 45 mph in an area where the posted speed limit is 25 mph. He further explains that the driver had been on a “rapid descent” of a hill, which might explain the loss of control. Police were able to recover the vehicle’s black‑box data logger, which corroborated the speed reading and a sudden braking attempt just before the swerving maneuver.

Another link in the article brings readers to the North Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s website, where a brief editorial by the chamber’s president, Maria Gutierrez, comments on how the incident underscores the importance of traffic safety in a neighborhood that is “already grappling with a higher rate of traffic violations compared with the rest of Omaha.” Gutierrez’s comments also mention that the chamber is lobbying for additional signage and better lighting on streets that pass near residential homes.

A third external link takes readers to a local photo‑gallery on the Omaha World‑Herald site, which shows a series of images from the scene: a close‑up of the dented front bumper, the shattered glass from the homeowner’s front door, and a police officer’s snapshot of the driver’s face. The gallery also includes a map of the area that marks the location of the incident in red, as well as a “before‑and‑after” overlay of the house’s exterior.

What We Know About the Driver and the Damage

The police release confirms that the driver’s name is not yet public; the Department has requested a public comment period before the release of the suspect’s identity. The driver’s vehicle, the 2015 Ford Focus, was found to be in good mechanical condition aside from the impact damage. A minor dent in the rear quarter panel was the only exterior damage. The vehicle’s insurance policy was submitted by the driver’s insurance agent, who confirmed that the policy covers liability for property damage but not for injuries to occupants.

The homeowner, 62‑year‑old Ms. Ruth Jackson, stated in an interview with the KETV news team that she was asleep at the time of the incident. “It was so sudden,” she said. “I woke up to the sound of the car screeching. I was relieved when I saw the driver was okay, but the damage to my house is… huge.” According to Jackson, the house has been under the care of the same family for over 40 years. The broken glass on the front door required a complete replacement, and the damaged garage door needed to be fixed as well. She estimated the total repair costs at roughly $10,000.

Legal and Community Reactions

The Omaha Police Department’s statement clarifies that the driver is facing a misdemeanor charge for reckless driving, with potential penalties of up to a year in jail, a $2,500 fine, and suspension of his driver’s license. Because the driver fled the scene, he may also face an additional misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident, which could carry an extra year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The department is currently waiting for a preliminary hearing date, which could take several weeks.

City Council member Carlos Perez, who represents District 7 (which includes North Omaha), issued a brief statement through his staff. “We take any incident that endangers residents very seriously,” Perez said. “This situation is a stark reminder that our streets must be designed to keep both drivers and homeowners safe. The city is already reviewing traffic patterns on 23rd Street and will be looking into installing more median barriers and better traffic signs.”

In addition, a local community activist group, the North Omaha Neighborhood Association, has called for a neighborhood “road safety” workshop in partnership with the city. “We need more education for drivers about the speed limits and the importance of staying within the lane, especially in residential areas,” said the group’s spokesperson, Jamal Ali. “This incident shows that the consequences can be serious, both for the driver and for the community.”

Follow‑Up and Next Steps

The article ends with a note that the Omaha Police Department will provide an update as soon as the driver’s court appearance is scheduled. In the meantime, residents are urged to report any suspicious activity and to keep a safe distance from busy residential streets. KETV’s traffic department has also announced that it will be running a special segment on safe driving in residential neighborhoods, focusing on the importance of adhering to speed limits and the risks of distracted driving.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the safety of North Omaha’s streets. Local officials have indicated that a multi‑agency task force will review traffic data from the past year to identify high‑risk intersections. The city’s transportation department is also in the process of conducting a safety audit of 23rd Street, with the aim of installing additional stop signs, better lighting, and possibly a median barrier to reduce the likelihood of similar near‑misses.

While the driver has yet to be formally identified, the combined media coverage from KETV, the Omaha Police Department, the North Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and local community groups provides a comprehensive picture of an incident that could have turned deadly. The focus now shifts to ensuring that measures are taken to prevent such dangerous incidents in the future and to support the homeowner who has suffered both emotional distress and significant property damage.