Dec. 23, 2004, 2:16AM


Man watching TV in bed is run over by car



Buick crashes through the wall of his apartment
By PEGGY O'HARE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Craig Hartley / For the Chronicle

A man watching television became ensnared in his own drama Wednesday when a car plowed into his northwest Houston apartment and ran over him as he lay on his bed.

Willmon Guillory, 56, was trapped beneath the vehicle for about 40 minutes before Houston firefighters were able to free him.

He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday night.

The crash occurred about 4:20 p.m. at Guillory's apartment in the 5500 block of Holly View. Firefighters said three young people were in a Buick that plunged through a brick wall into Guillory's bedroom.

The three occupants then kicked open the car doors and ran away.

Guillory's son, Raymond Butler, said he was in another room when he heard the crash. He ran into the bedroom to find his father pinned beneath the car, complaining of pain to his legs.

"It was loud. It was almost terrifying, because when I heard it, I just knew something was wrong," Butler said of the crash.

Butler said the three people in the Buick ? two teenage boys and a girl ? proclaimed, "We lost control of the car, we lost control, man," before running away.

The youths looked over their shoulders at the damage as they ran, he said.

Police are trying to determine whether the vehicle was stolen.

Guillory remained alert and talking as emergency crews tried to free him, a Houston Fire Department captain said.

Fire crews used the Jaws of Life and air bags to raise the car off him.

Aside from the injuries to his lower body, Guillory was treated for shock, firefighters said.

The car caused extensive damage to the apartment, knocking down a wall and scattering debris and furniture throughout.