Posted on 06/13/2007 8:09:54 PM PDT by MplsSteve
She told officers she was just hurrying to get home.
That's the story the 33-year-old naked woman accused of ramming a U-Haul van into the bedroom of a South East Street house early Sunday afternoon gave Culpeper town police.
Will Green was sitting on the porch of the home he was visiting when he saw the van coming around a wide turn at what he said was a high rate of speed.
"I thought it was going to hit the neighbor's house," Green said yesterday. "I couldn't believe it when I saw it coming."
The van missed the neighbor's house but struck an SUV parked out front. It then careened into the yard and took out much of the railing and furniture on the patio there, Green said.
That may have slowed the van, but it didn't stop until it hit the side of Gilbert and Rosita Nelson's home next door, buckling the floor and pushing in the bedroom wall.
"It's a miracle that the lady next door, who is elderly, wasn't on the patio at the time," Rosita Nelson said. "She usually sits out there."
At that point Green, who admitted he was stunned, heard screaming.
"At first, I thought it was the neighbor lady. But when I got to the van, I found out it was the driver, who was trying to get out," he said.
"At first, I tried to help her. But when I saw she was completely naked, I just went back in the house and called 911," he added. "After that, I got a sheet and took it out so she could put it around her."
Rosita Nelson said she was at work at the Dollar Store when her daughter called and told her what had happened.
"At first, I thought she said there was a van at the house," Nelson recalled. "She said, 'No, Mama! There's a van IN the house.' At that point, I ran the whole mile home."
Luckily, Gilbert Nelson, who is recovering from a heart attack and stroke, wasn't home at the time. He was out picking up his granddaughter.
"Usually, he's in the bed about that time," Green said.
Fearful the small house might collapse, police left the U-Haul, which Jenkins said the woman had rented a few days earlier, in the side of the building until it could be shored up. After about 24 hours, it was towed away.
Joyce Ann Herbert of Culpeper was charged with indecent exposure, driving with a suspended license, not wearing a seatbelt and driving without liability insurance, police Sgt. Scott Jenkins said. She was not injured.
Jenkins said Herbert had been discharged from Culpeper Regional Hospital that morning.
"She said she was in a hurry to get home," said investigating Officer Tony Sisk, who noted that Herbert had just left home before the accident happened.
Sisk said he had no idea why Herbert was nude at the time. He said police officers had gone to Herbert's home to interview her on another occasion and she came to the door without clothes.
The van sustained front-end damage. Nelson said the SUV parked on South East Street was totaled.
The extent of the damage to the house, which Jenkins said is owned by Ronnie Frazier, was still being determined.
[The van missed the neighbor’s house but struck an SUV parked out front. It then careened into the yard and took out much of the railing and furniture on the patio there, Green said ... the SUV parked on South East Street was totaled.]
That SUV gave it’s life to save the people in the house. It’s a hero and deserves a medal.
No, it’s true! Really! :-)
Time to upgrade!
I have a Yamaha YP-211 turntable that I have kept in top notch condition for the 28 years I've owned it. I can still get belts and cartridges for it.
Ain't nothing like "E.T.I." on Blue Oyster Cult's "Some Enchanted Evening" album on my YP-211 pumping through my old Yamaha CA-610 amp.
No school like the old school.
Or that she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt?
I just pulled the albums I have, couldn’t remember the names.
I’ve got that one, South of the Border, Going Places, TJ Brass and Vol 2 and The Lonely Bull along with two Baja Marimba Bands.
Haven’t listened to them for years but I’m going to, it was great music.
feature that driving around buck naked...Jeez Louise!
Sounds more like the U-Haul truck is a rabid environmentalist and wanted to take out an SUV. The U-Haul probably picked the girl up at some college protest... which would explain why she was naked.
Front end damage?
Maybe her most dispicable offense was that she was driving a gas guzzler.
You read my mind, posting that album cover!
I recall that the model was expecting at the time that photo was shot, too.
Ha! I did too but that was before Herb Alpert. He was one of my favorites though.
You did good! And the comments were HILARIOUS! I’m laughing to hard that my dog thinks something is wrong with me....LOLOL...
WHA ???? Rosie is Gay??
WOW,, what a night!
Sure sounds like a Dimocrat to me.
Is this the woman racing her husband to get to the bath room??? LOL
Nude woman crashes truck Liz Mitchell
Sisk was not sure why Herbert was driving naked. ÂShe said she was trying to get back home, Sisk said. ÂShe was disoriented.Â
When asked why she was naked, Herbert said she didnÂt know. She didnÂt reply when asked if it was common, according to the police report.
The report also indicates Herbert was traveling about 35 mph in the 25-mph zone.
The impact caused about $10,000 worth of damage to the U-Haul and $25,000 worth to the house, Sgt. Scott Jenkins said.
Residents from 1205 S. East St. contacted police. Greene said he and another neighbor retrieved sheets to cover Herbert.
As she tried to get out of the U-Haul, Herbert kept saying, Âthe truck wouldnÂt stop, Greene said. Gilbert Nelson, 54, said it doesnÂt appear that Herbert tried to stop.
ÂThere is no indication of any brake marks, he said. ÂSome people said the wheels were still spinning (when she stopped).Â
The Nelsons home was temporarily condemned on Sunday because it was considered unsafe. They stayed in a hotel that night.
ÂThe vehicle was holding up the house, 52-year-old Rosita Nelson said. Her husband added that most of the damage was done to their bedroom - the wall buckled and the floor was torn up.
After a structural inspection, they were allowed to move back into the home, which they rent from Ron Frazier. Repairs are likely to take two weeks.
Gilbert Nelson said he is relieved his grandchildren were not home; they were at the park at the time of the incident.
Police charged Herbert with indecent exposure, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, failure to wear a seat belt and having no liability insurance.
The charges could be punishable up to one year in jail or $2,500 in fines.
Herbert has a criminal record and two cases pending in General District Court. She is scheduled to appear June 27 on an assault charge for an incident in March in which Herbert allegedly attempted to strike her roommate with a knife after she threw Kool-Aid on Herbert.
Next month, she is scheduled to appear in court on a charge of possessing marijuana.
According to court records, Herbert has been found guilty of petit larceny in 1999, writing bad checks in 1999 and 2001 and obtaining drugs in 2000.
heheh
Wish I caught it...
It reminds me the Cowboys should have a good year if Romo can keep his head...out of the clouds.
All it needs now is Looter Guy.
This explains the 911 call and the sheet.
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