Scott and Ashley Jang are looking forward to a new beginning.

After months of uncertainty, the couple's first home which they purchased last April, has been demolished.

"I'm kind of glad to see it gone," said Mr. Jang. "We just need to move on from this chapter."

Back in November, an SUV crashed into their Cherry Street home and caught fire.

The driver--identified as 38-year-old Robert Corbett--was killed in the crash.

The couple and their dog Hamilton were able to escape without injury.

They gave Erie News Now a firsthand look at the damage just days after the wreck.

The home was destroyed by the crash.

"I thought I was in a nightmare," said Mrs. Jang in November. "When I looked down, it looked like what hell would look like."

Built in 1934, and prior to its demolition, the house has had a history of crashes.

Based on old news and Millcreek Township Police reports, there have been at least six accidents on the 5002 Cherry Street property, including two fatalities.

The most recent one in November, and another one in 2004, after a truck struck a tree in the yard, eventually killing the passenger.

The intersection at Cherry Street and West Gore Road has also been problematic.

After filing a right-to-know with Millcreek Township, Erie News Now learned that since 1997, there have been at least 21 accidents with five injuries and six DUI incidents in that area.

The Jang's are calling for more safety measures at that intersection.

"If someone does put a house here, put a guardrail up, at a minimum," said Mr. Jang. "Let someone put something up."


So who is responsible for any additional safety measures at that intersection?

According to Millcreek Township Planning and Development Director Matthew Waldinger, the property itself is located in Millcreek Township.

However, the roads are the responsibility of the city of Erie.

"The interesting thing about this intersection, is the line between Millcreek township and the city of Erie actually follows south the right-of-way line on West Gore Road and then follows the west line of Cherry Street," said Waldinger. "The properties themselves are in Millcreek Township, but the roadway and everything east and north is in the city of Erie and under city control and maintenance."


Millcreek Township Supervisor Kim Clear says the township is willing to work with the city of Erie, to improve the area.


"That area is definitely a dangerous intersection for multiple reasons," said Clear. "It's not even just about the house. The intersection itself is not properly signed and is not being properly guarded, and I think we need to take some steps to be more proactive."

We spoke with Erie Traffic Engineer Bill Heiden about potential safety improvements.

"It is both Millcreek and the city, so there's the issue of who controls it," said Heiden. "Normally the first thing that we would look at for something like that, is adding additional signage, or pavement markings so that would be something we would look into."

But when it comes to a guardrail......

"A guardrail wouldn't be meant there," said Heiden. "Any other obstruction, whether a boulder or a block, anything like that, those are dangerous objects for people to hit and then they also get in the way of maintenance operations, like plowing or street sweeping, or anything like that."

Meanwhile, after living with friends for months, the Jang's have closed on a new home.

"We closed on our new house the same day this one came down," said Mr. Jang. "Kind of poetic."