While taking a shower in the extended part of his house that is connected his lean-to, the homeowner of 17 Spring Valley Street heard an impact up at his chain link fence along the sidewalk, and then experienced what "felt like a small earthquake,” he told A Little Beacon Blog, who went over to the property to verify the address after the Beacon Fire Department released details on the Priority 1 auto accident that occurred late Tuesday afternoon (11/3/2026).

According to the Beacon Fire Department’s release, a car drove off the road, “through a fence, down an embankment, over 2 stone walls and through a structural overhang.”

At 3:31pm, the Beacon Fire Department, Beacon Volunteer Ambulance (BVAC) and Ambulnz HVNY were dispatched “for a Priority 1 auto accident involving a car vs building,” their report said.

They arrived to the scene within 2 minutes. “The occupant of the vehicle was still inside unable to exit. Cribbing was used to stabilize the vehicle as Rescue Struts were deployed to stabilize the structure on top of the vehicle allowing the occupant of the vehicle to be removed safely. Sections of fence and brush were cut back to make access for the tow truck. A precautionary hose line was charged for vehicle removal.”

Beacon Fire reported that 2 patients were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and confirmed to ALBB that the patients were both occupants of the car.

Beacon PBA and the City of Beacon Building Department assisted on the scene, the release stated. Beacon Fire reported that all crews were clear of the scene by 5:05pm.

What Happened? How Did The Car Drive Off The Road Like That?

The back yard of 17 Spring Valley Street, where the car reversed down into it. The following day, The homeowner sits just below that, contemplating the day.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

While verifying the address for this article, and recognizing it as the log-cabin style house just past the old Dogwood (currently Cooper’s) and old Beacon Firehouse near Mount Beacon, ALBB drove around the house to see how a car might have gone off the road like that.

It was at that point that ALBB noticed a man sitting in the lower half of the house’s backyard, just beyond the stone walls, absorbing the morning sun. He was only feet away from where the car had landed the previous day.

Surrounded by thistles and what looked to be native stream beds filled in with weeds that bees of various species were enjoying on this warm fall day, ALBB asked if the man was OK after yesterday’s incident, and asked in which direction the car came from.

The man turned out to be the homeowner, and invited ALBB in to explain how it happened and where he was at the time. The car, he said, was driven by a resident who is familiar with the terrain of the area. They were reversing, and accidentally reversed hard enough to plow through the fence and down the steep front yard, knocking down a tree in his orchard, and came to a stop in his lean-to, where he keeps equipment for his fleet of e-bikes.

The Front of 17 Spring Valley Street, where the car reversed hard enough to go through the chain link fence, and down the steep embankment of the front yard, stopping when it hit the lean-to and tree.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

During our interview, guests with suitcases exited out of his back porch, prompting the homeowner to apologize for the startling inconvenience of their stay. This address is a permitted Short Term Rental (ALBB has the list of currently permitted addresses as a result of a FOIL request for future articles on Short Term Rental enforcement that is being discussed by the public and City Council).

Before that, a neighbor had come by with work gloves in hand, ready to tear into the mess that was left behind after the car and occupants were rescued from the lean-to. “That’s Bruno,” the homeowner told ALBB. “He’s a neighbor and we help each other. A few weeks ago, a car went through his front yard, so I helped him put cement balls in the front yard to prevent it from happening again.”

Bruno stepped through the thistles to approach the homeowner. “Kar-ma?” the homeowner said to Bruno, making a defeated sounding pun. Bruno is eager to tell his story on ALBB about the stray car that plowed through his yard. That will be in an upcoming article.

Meanwhile, a new elderberry had blossomed on the bare shrub next to the homeowner, indicating new beginnings for the days ahead.