Families forced to move after car hits townhomes 

At first, Matthew Mosch thought someone was breaking in, with his alarm system blaring and phone going off. Instead, an SUV had just run 25 feet off Newberry Road, driven through a plastic fence and hit a group of townhomes. 

Now, the Homeowners Association for Tara West End is considering a concrete barrier to prevent another accident.  

“In my delirium, I couldn’t find my glasses, so I went downstairs and kind of saw all the chaos that was going on outside and immediately ran back upstairs and grabbed my glasses,” Mosch said in a phone interview.  

The crash happened at almost 2 a.m. on Oct. 29. Alberto Hernandez, a 36-year-old resident from Apopka, was driving the vehicle west when he lost control. A Florida Highway Patrol investigation charged him with careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.  

The wreck impacted three townhomes, and those families have had to move. Next door, Stefon Johnson and his wife and child had to leave.  

Mosch started out in a hotel and is now in an apartment. His insurance is paying for it, but the funds will empty eventually. Currently, his home lacks power and an entire back wall, with the hole boarded up.  

According to the charges, the wreck caused more than $100,000 worth of damage. An entertainment center, TV, couch, AC unit and more were wiped out.  

“I’m hopeful that they can move back in at some point, but with mine, I really don’t know the process for how long it’s going to take,” Mosch said.