No injuries after truck crashed into garage Monday, driver fled

LACONIA — Vinney and Dianna Ferrara had a holiday getaway to Boston planned. Their vacation was cut short when police notified them on Monday a pickup truck smashed into their garage in the middle of the night, and the driver allegedly fled the scene.

Police Chief Matt Canfield said the driver of the truck was Sarah Swett, of Laconia, and he expected charges against her to be filed soon.

“We have not made an arrest at this point, but I do anticipate making one in the near future,” Canfield said, adding officers needed a warrant affidavit first. “I anticipate charges of conduct after an accident, operating after suspension and taking without the owner’s consent. All Class A misdemeanors.”

A spokesperson for the Laconia Fire Department said they were called to the house on Lexington Drive at 3:15 a.m. on Dec. 29, for a “plain motor vehicle accident,” after a 911 call. Chief Tim Joubert was unsure who called 911, but upon arrival firefighters found the accident involved a pickup truck crashing into the garage, which heavily damaged the truck and caused structural damage to the garage.

“We looked around to investigate and make sure nobody was hurt,” Joubert said. “We were afraid of the structure’s stability, so we did not remove the vehicle.”

Joubert said firefighters evaluated the scene and found neither the driver nor the homeowners were present, making it a police matter.

Joubert said his crew was worried removing the truck could create a hazard, so the vehicle remained impacted in the side of the garage overnight. Firefighters left the scene at 3:36 a.m.

A tip left by voicemail to The Daily Sun on Monday morning indicated the caller's daughter had stolen his truck and crashed it into a house. He said he was not sure what the next steps he should take were, and said the police knew there had been an issue with the driver and his father on Sunday.

An emailed tip sent to The Sun from Jonathan Swett read that a truck was halfway inside a house and couldn’t be removed until the house was supported, and that the driver had fled the scene. He alleged the truck was stolen, and was critical of Laconia Police, alleging they knew about the escalation between Sarah Swett and the truck’s owner.

Reached by phone, Jonathan Swett said the voicemail was left by his father. He said a family member “took the truck without asking,” and crashed it into the house.

The Ferraras praised the Laconia Police and Fire departments for their response and keeping them at ease in what was an unsettling scenario.

Vinney Ferrara said they had taken a trip for the night, and had plans on Monday as well. It was no major occasion, just to enjoy quality time together. They didn’t see the calls about the accident until 7 a.m., but security footage showed it happened at 1:24 a.m. They immediately headed back to Laconia.

“They told us what happened, and that a woman had hit our house,” Vinney said. “I also have security cameras, and I took a look, and there was a truck lodged in the garage.”

They called their insurance companies, and will file a claim for the structure, as well as for damage to a brand new 2025 Lexus in the garage.

The Ferraras said Officer RJ Bassett was at the scene waiting for them when they arrived, and was exceptionally helpful every step of the way.

“He was here waiting for us and he was great,” Vinney said. “I can’t say enough about the police department."

Police could only speculate on the cause of the accident, and Dianna said it was clear the driver was not in control of the truck. They reiterated the important thing was they were safe, and it could have been much worse if someone happened to be in the garage at that time.

“It was a scary ride home, I mean, plus driving home in this terrible weather,” Vinney said. “[Dianna's] on the phone with insurance and talking to people, and people were taking pictures for us so we could see what happened.”

Canfield said officers have spoken to Swett and other parties involved. He said she was not immediately taken into custody because it is a misdemeanor crime, and police first need to establish probable cause for the charges.

“An officer will be securing the warrant and once that is done, we will seek to arrest,” Canfield said.

The Ferraras are unsure about the dollar amount of the damage to the property, or who will have to pay for the repairs.