Photo: montiannoowong / iStock / Getty Images
A woman in Germantown, narrowly avoided serious injury when a truck crashed into her home on Thursday (September 11). The incident occurred on Crawford Lane when a tractor trailer hauling lumber veered off the road, crossed state Route 9G, and plowed through a stand of trees before striking the house and two propane tanks.
Karen Stodolski, the homeowner, was outside with her dog at the time. She described the sound of the truck as similar to a freight train. Remarkably, Stodolski and her dog were unharmed, as pieces of lumber from the truck shifted her chair, moving her out of harm's way. Stodolski likened the experience to a scene from a 'Final Destination' movie.
The crash caused a propane leak, prompting the evacuation of the nearby Germantown Central School as a precaution. About 40 to 50 gallons of fuel also leaked, requiring the response of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). According to Germantown Fire Chief Philip Salvatore, the truck driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.
The home sustained minor to moderate damage, but code enforcement officials deemed it livable. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. CBS6 Albany reported that the investigation is ongoing to determine why the driver left the roadway.