Heart-stopping moment car smashes through garden fence narrowly missing children playing in swimming pool

THIS is the heart-stopping moment a speeding car smashes through a fence, narrowly missing a toddler and two young kids playing nearby. Shocking surveillance footage shows the children swimming when a reckless driver hurtles through the garden fence of their Texas home. Shocking footage shows a car smash through a garden fence Credit: Facebook/ Brittany Van Dusen The car and debris landed just inches from three young children playing by the pool Credit: Facebook/ Brittany Van Dusen Debris is sent flying into the water, with the car stopping just “inches away” from the toddler. Video captured the tot running past the wooden fence moments before the heavy impact. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The Van Dusen family said that the careless crash also risked the lives of their five-year-old twins, who were in the pool at the time. They said in a statement: “Our twins could have been injured or killed. “In a matter of seconds, our home and our backyard – places where our children should be completely safe — became a scene where we were forced to face the possibility of losing one of [them]” The parents called it an “act of God” that their toddler was not struck. “What happened to our family was not simply an accident,” they said. “It was a terrifying reminder of how quickly reckless driving can turn into a tragedy.” Most read in The Sun The parents have said it was an ‘act of God’ that none were hurt Credit: Facebook/ Brittany Van Dusen Neighbours have complained of reckless driving in the neighbourhoodCredit: Facebook/ Brittany Van Dusen The incident unfolded in a suburban neighbourhood of Fort Worth, a city neighbouring Dallas, at around 7pm on Sunday. Police said that there were two people inside the vehicle at the time and that the passenger had to be taken to the hospital. Neighbours told CBS that speeding and reckless driving are a “constant” in the neighbourhood. Toni Gunter, who lives a few houses from the Van Dusens, said he “heard an explosion and knew there was a crash”. He added: “Every day from 3 o’clock till 10 o’clock, at least, I go to bed at 10 – at least for those several hours, it’s constant. Fort Worth councillor Charles Lauersdorf vowed to implement traffic-calming measures in response to the crash. He said: “Any time you have these new developments that just have long stretches of road with nothing to slow drivers down, it’s a problem.” Lauersdorf expects a stop sign to be installed in the next month, adding that a traffic study is required before a stoplight could be erected. Frustrated neighbours, however, fear that city hall won’t take proper action. Toni said: “I just don’t know if they’re really going to do anything that will stop it. “It’s too much money and they don’t want to spend it. I understand, but I don’t know if you could convince that father that his daughter isn’t worth it.” Police confirmed that the driver was only cited for the harrowing crash, CBS reported. It is unclear who the motorist is or what the exact penalties will be. Texas classes reckless driving as a misdemeanour that carries a maximum penalty of $200 (£150) and up to 30 days in jail, according to the Texas Transportation Code. The Van Dusens complained that the ticket is just a slap on the wrist for putting their children’s lives in danger. They said: “A fence can be repaired. Property can be replaced. But a child’s life cannot. “We are not interested in simply pointing fingers. We want to turn what happened to our family into meaningful change.” Comment now