Photo Gallery | Driver plows into apartment complex destroying six units

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Police say a man driving an SUV plowed through the front gate of an apartment complex, crashed into the building causing six units to be evacuated.

Police say there were three men in the SUV when it crashed through the front gate of the Slopes Apartments on Kilbourne Drive around 2 a.m. Monday morning.

Officials say the impact sent the wrought iron fence flying twenty yards.

That's when officers say the SUV drifted slightly right, went through the bedroom of a downstairs unit where a man's daughter was supposed to be sleeping.

The truck then began to roll, and crashed through another apartment in an adjoining building.  Neighbors said the entire building shook violently.

James Barber Junior's daughter had decided to stay up late and was in the other room working on the computer when the accident happened.

"It look like Beirut out here," Barber said, as his daughter wept uncontrollably behind him.  "We're all lucky to be alive. We heard a loud explosion."

"That's where her bed was," he said while pointing at the rubble.  "I don't even see the bed.  The bed is disintegrated."

Medics said three men inside the vehicle climbed out then took off running up the street.  They were caught by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police a short time later.

All three were checked out by first responders, MEDIC said they transported one with life-threatening injuries with trauma to the head.

Three other people at the apartment complex had to be treated by emergency crews for their injuries.

Firefighters quickly evacuated six units in total because of fears they were no longer structurally sound.

James Barber could only stand back behind the police yellow tape, and stare at his daughter's bed, now pinned under the truck's wheel.

"I don't know what to say about this one, but thank you Jesus."

Copyright WBTV 2011. All rights reserved.