A Queensland family whose home was torn apart when an allegedly stolen car crashed into the property is now scrambling to find somewhere else to live after receiving a notice to leave.
Family Forced to Evacuate After Crash
David Williams, 49, said the family was told to evacuate their two-storey rental house on Chambers Flat Rd at Marsden, Logan, after the June 8 crash because it was considered unsafe.
"We had to get out of the house right then and there," Williams told 7NEWS.com.au.
Williams claimed that he, his wife Jasmine, 47, and their three sons moved into a caravan in the backyard after the crash, until a make-safe builder, contracted by the principal builder through the insurer, attended the property and secured the damaged section of the home.
"I took that as that we can move back into the house," he said.
The allegedly stolen Hyundai smashed through fences before slamming into the side of the Marsden home.
Notice to Leave Issued
Williams said a builder engaged by the landlord attended the property on Friday to photograph the damage for potential repair works, revealing the family had moved back into the house.
Later that day, the family was issued with a Notice to Leave stating the home was unliveable due to crash damage. The landlord, who asked not to be named, said the decision to issue a Form 12 Notice to Leave was based on safety concerns after the crash.
"I can't keep risking other people's livelihoods," he told 7NEWS.com.au.
He claimed the family moved back into the house after initial make-safe works were completed, despite concerns about the property's condition raised by those involved in assessing the damage.
"They left me no choice," he said.
Family's Health Struggles
The family said the notice arrived as they were still recovering from the shock of the crash, with Williams caring for his wife Jasmine, a stage-four throat cancer survivor who underwent life-saving surgery to remove her voice box.
She now breathes through a stoma in her neck and communicates without speech.
"I just don't understand it ... the make safe guy made it safe," Williams said.
Williams said the notice, only discovered on Saturday, required them to vacate by Sunday.
"I think I totally just had a meltdown," Williams said.
"I had to remove myself for a few minutes, go for a drive, settle down and then come back.
"Then we started packing."
Landlord's Perspective
The landlord said he lives outside of Brisbane and recently engaged a property manager to assist with the rental. He said he had not increased the rent in about a decade and had tried to support the family during their tenancy, including renovating the kitchen following Jasmine Williams' cancer diagnosis.
Memories and Community Ties
The family said they have spent the past week trying to box up almost two decades of memories while searching for alternative accommodation.
"We've been trying to pack up 18 years of life," Williams said.
"We're in this house for 10 (years), but we were next door for eight years as well.
"Now, we have nowhere to go."
Williams said the property was more than just a house.
The family raised their children there, built a backyard skate ramp that became a gathering place for local kids and converted part of the home into a rehearsal space for his punk band, Dedway.
"We've had a lot of good times here," he said. "You build a life."
Traumatic Crash Experience
The latest setback comes after what Williams described as one of the most frightening experiences of his life.
"I'll never forget the sound," Williams said.
He said his wife Jasmine woke him after hearing the vehicle tearing through the neighbouring property.
"I knew that something had happened, but it actually hadn't finished happening," he said.
"I got up and I ran straight down the hallway and then it just hit with this almighty crash and it took the breath out of me.
"It felt like the sky was cracking down."
Williams said he rushed towards the impact site before hearing cries for help coming from the wreckage.
He rushed towards what he described as a "steaming, hissing, mangled wreck" before hearing kids crying "help us" coming from inside the vehicle.
A 14-year-old girl in the back seat suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital, while police allege another 14-year-old girl was behind the wheel. She and a 15-year-old passenger were taken to hospital in stable conditions with minor injuries.
"Those are the moments that I'm having trouble ... they just keep replaying," Williams said.
"It's like a glitch. It's a record on repeat."
Community Support
A close friend of the family has since launched a fundraiser to help them get back on their feet and find a new home.
Friends have rallied around the family, including members of the local music community, where Williams is affectionately known as "Kombi Dave".
"Let's help the people who always are the first there to help a mate in crisis," fundraiser organiser Rachelle Richards wrote.
Williams said the family remained at the property after the notice's deadline while seeking advice from tenancy advocacy service QSTARS.
He said they hoped to secure more time to pack up their belongings and find a new home.
"We haven't left yet because we've got nowhere to go," he said.
The stress of the past 10 days had taken a toll on the whole family, including their children.
His youngest son only recently started high school and the family has been working with support services to help him navigate the upheaval.
Focusing on Positives
Despite everything that has happened, Williams said he was trying to focus on the positives.
"It's a miracle that everyone's alive and no one's hurt in the house," he said.
"It's a miracle that two of those girls walked away from that car that night."
Still, the family is left to deal with the aftermath of an ordeal entirely beyond their control.
"I think that uncertainty is probably the biggest stress right now, like just not knowing where we're going," Williams said.
"We've got to accept that whatever happens now is going to happen and it's okay because we're all here and we're all safe and that's all that matters.
"We'll just look after what we can control, getting those moving boxes, starting to be proactive about it and actually getting out of here."
