Daphne DUI Crash: Suspect Arrested After Plowing Through Occupied Home

A Daphne man has been taken into custody after police say he drove his sedan straight through an occupied home in the Lake Forest subdivision Thursday evening, then crashed to a stop in the front yard.

The Daphne Police Department responded to a residence on Buena Vista Drive around 7:15 p.m. after receiving reports of a vehicle entering a structure. Officers arrived to find 32-year-old Austin Mamuscia unconscious behind the wheel of a Kia sedan. According to police, the man also lives on Buena Vista Drive, just a few houses away from the damaged home.

Investigators determined that the sedan struck the corner of the house, tore through an unoccupied bedroom, and punched out the opposite side wall before coming to rest on the lawn. The homeowner, who was inside at the time of the crash, was not injured. “It sounded like a bomb went off,” a neighbor told FOX10 News, describing the scene as “terrifying.”

Emergency responders administered Narcan to revive Mamuscia, who appeared to be experiencing an overdose. Police said they observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the vehicle, along with a small amount of fentanyl and a bottle of synthetic urine — a substance commonly used to cheat drug tests.

Mamuscia was treated at the scene by Daphne FireMedics for minor injuries, then transported to a local hospital. He has since been booked into the Baldwin County Corrections facility.

The Daphne Police Department released a full list of charges against Mamuscia on Friday, including possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), DUI involving a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of synthetic urine, driving while license suspended, operating a vehicle without insurance, expired tag, and reckless driving.

“This could have been a tragedy,” said Daphne Police Chief David Carpenter in a statement. “We are grateful no one in the home was hurt, and we are committed to holding those who drive under the influence of drugs fully accountable.”

The incident highlights a growing concern over drugged driving in the region. According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, DUI-related crashes involving controlled substances have risen 18% over the past two years in Baldwin County alone. Mamuscia’s case also raises questions about the use of synthetic urine to evade detection during probation or workplace screenings.

The homeowner, who declined to be identified, told reporters that the bedroom destroyed by the crash was used by a family member who was away at the time. “If someone had been in there, they’d be dead,” the owner said. The family is now staying with relatives while structural repairs are arranged.

Mamuscia is scheduled to appear before a Baldwin County judge on Monday. His bond has not yet been set.

This article was updated on March 20, 2025, with additional details from the Daphne Police Department and neighbor interviews.