ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — A tractor-trailer slammed into a home in Alexander County Thursday afternoon, troopers said.
The home on Millersville Road, south of Taylorsville, was badly damaged, according to Channel 9′s Dave Faherty.
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Craven Clark saw the crash unfold right in front of him. He spotted the 18-wheeler as it jackknifed and barreled through his yard before crashing into a home.
“I (saw) the truck as it came by the bay window here and said, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s a truck!’ And that’s when I jumped up and called 911,” he said.
Firefighters said a woman was inside the home at the time, but was not hurt. Neighbors said fortunately, her 3-year-old was over at their grandparents’ home when the tractor-trailer hit the house.
The home has been deemed unsafe to live in because of all the damage, according to officials. Neighbors said power to the home has also been cut off.
Faherty has learned the couple who lived there is now staying with family members.
Troopers said the truck -- which belonged to Hickory Springs -- was empty, and the driver has been cited for failure to maintain lane control.
Rodney Icenhour, who has more than 30 years of experience driving big rigs, drives Millersville Road often and says one mistake can be costly when hauling 80,000 pounds.
“Once that steer tire gets off the roadway and hits the grass, especially if it’s wet or muddy and you jerk it back into the road, you cannot get that truck back under control. You’re done. You’re gonna wreck,” he said.
No other details have been released at this point.
Return to this story for updates.
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