Truck Crashes into Suburban Home

Driver may have had a medical emergency, officials say

The driver of a local highway department truck may have suffered a medical emergency before the truck crashed into a southwest suburban home Thursday morning.

"It sounds like he was completely unconscious when he hit the house. The wheels were still turning. Hopefully he's OK," said A.J. Jennings, who lives in the home on the 14000 block of Whirlaway Court in unincorporated Homer Glen.

A relative, Grace Jennings, was inside at the time of the accident and was not injured, police said, though she was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet for precautionary measures.

The 2 1/2-ton International Homer Township Highway Department was being driven by a 53-year-old high department employee who lost control of the vehicle at about noon.

The driver told police he does not remember what happened, but believes he blacked out before he lost control of the vehicle while driving, according to Will County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer.

He was conscious at the scene and was also taken to Silver Cross Hospital.

The truck was southbound on Will-Cook Road near Derby Road when it veered off the pavement, went through a few yards striking bushes and trees, and came to rest at the southeast corner of the tri-level home, near its dining room, police said.

A tow truck removed the vehicle from the home and a board-up company covering up the the gaping hole.

The home is close to the border of Will and Cook counties.

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