A vehicle that blew through a fence in the 3900 block of Alexis Park Drive in Vernon Saturday night narrowly missed striking a house.

Homeowner Chris Clark said he heard the squealing of tires and then a very loud crash at the front of his house around midnight.

"I'd actually thought they hit our truck in the front yard," Clark said while cleaning debris up in his yard Sunday. "It could have been much worse as my nephew sleeps in a bedroom in the basement and he saw the headlights shining in his window."

After some auto part detective work, Clark determined that the vehicle in question is a black BMW.

"We found the license plate holder and the inscription says it is a BMW," Clark noted.

Judging by the marks on the pavement, the BMW was driven at a high rate of speed from the stoplight at 39th Avenue and lost control, stopping only after running through the fence and ending up against a large tree. Clark said the vehicle then quickly backed out from his yard and took off.

"It was either someone out joyriding with daddy's car or maybe it was stolen," Clark said. "Really, I just want someone to come and help me rebuild the fence."

Police were called after the incident and came by the scene, but told Clark it was unlikely that they would be able to identify the vehicle or the driver.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.

Photo: Chris Clark