By John Skipper
Mason City Globe Gazette

MASON CITY, Iowa — Tim Clausen said he had “a rude awakening” early Tuesday morning when a car slammed through the front of his home.

“I thought it was a gas explosion,” said Clausen. “Your first thought sure isn’t that someone just drove their car into your living room.”

The driver, Shelby Veal, 14, of Lake Mills, Iowa, was driving a stolen vehicle, police said.

She was charged with violating an instruction permit, failing to provide security against liability, eluding, failing to maintain control and second degree theft.

A passenger in her car, Nicholas Lindsay, 16, of Mason City, Iowa, was charged with minor consumption of alcohol and second-degree theft. Neither Veal nor Lindsay were injured.

Police said the episode began when they attempted to stop Veal’s vehicle for an equipment violation at 10th Street and North Harrison Avenue.

The vehicle failed to stop for the officer’s emergency warning signal and continued eastbound.

At the corner of 10th and North Jackson, Veal’s vehicle left the roadway, struck Clausen’s parked car in his driveway and went through the front of his house.

Police discovered the vehicle had been stolen earlier from the 600 block of Third Street Northeast.

Veal and Lindsay were detained by Juvenile Court Services at separate detention centers.

Clausen said he had to climb out the back window of his house, still not sure of what happened until police informed him.

He said the house is insured and has been in his family for three generations.

The front of the house and much of the interior appeared to be damaged beyond repair.

“I guess I clean it out, tear it down and start all over,” said Clausen, who has lived in the house for 14 years.

Monday was his 35th birthday.

Clausen said, “I called my boss and told him I won’t be in today — my house was destroyed.”