A Bonner Springs resident took what one neighbor described as a “Dukes of Hazzard” ride through five backyards Wednesday morning in the Whispering Woods subdivision off of 138th and Grove Streets.

Around 2 a.m., Philip Wilbert, who had been driving a company-owned Ford Econoline van west on Morse, drove through the stop sign at 138th and Morse and straight into the backyards of residents including Mayor Clausie Smith, City Manager Jack Helin and former state Rep. Al Ramirez. Wilbert first drove into the backyards of residents Charles and Lisa Bruce and Dan and Ruth Carter before taking a soft left into the Smith backyard. After doing extensive damage to landscaping in the Smith yard, Wilbert hit a tree hard enough to catapult the van over a stone wall at the edge of the Smith residence and into a large cedar tree, where the force of the hit pushed the tree 50 yards away from where it had originally stood. With wheels at this point flattened to the rim, the van rolled down through neighbor Winnie Vitt’s yard and ended up in a putting green in the Helins’ backyard. Despite the nature of the accident, police say Wilbert suffered only minor injuries.

Bonner Springs Police Lt. Rick Schubert said Wilbert, who left the scene of the accident, was determined to be the driver of the van through paperwork found inside. Upon being interviewed later in the day, Schubert said Wilbert admitted to driving through the yards.

Though still unclear as to what might have caused the accident, Helin speculated that Wilbert may have been driving too fast and drove through the stop sign, unable to stop his car at the point at which he hit the first yard.

Wilbert was cited for speeding, failing to stop at a stop sign, leaving the scene of an accident, inattentive driving and failing to wear a seatbelt. He has not been arrested.

Damage to the Smith residence included demolished flowers, shrubs and several trees, but Smith said it was too early to tell what the dollar amount of the damages will be.