Homeowners in Oakfield woke up to find a tractor trailer lodged in their 100-year-old house. According to state police, the driver of the tractor trailer had fallen asleep at the wheel leading to the crash late on Monday night.
New York State Police responded to the scene of the accident, which occurred just after 1am. Troopers determined that the tractor trailer driver had allegedly dozed off while driving resulting in the vehicle colliding with a house. The historic home, built in the late 1890s, suffered significant damage from the impact. Additionally, a parked car at the property was also struck by the tractor trailer. Fortunately, no one inside the house at the time of the crash sustained any injuries.
The tractor trailer driver was taken to UMMC in Batavia for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The homeowner, identified as Eric Seppala, expressed relief that his family was unharmed. Seppala, who has resided in the house since his parents purchased it in 1957, currently lives there with his wife and children.
Recalling the terrifying moment, Seppala stated that his family was asleep when they heard a loud noise. Due to the power being shut off, he had to locate a flashlight before discovering the extent of the damage. Seppala's children were on the floor below his bedroom, and one of his son's doors was jammed shut. With quick thinking, Eric kicked down the door and managed to rescue one of his sons. The other son had to escape through a window, while the third son safely descended the stairs.
Seppala expressed gratitude that no one inside the house was harmed during the crash. He emphasized that the area of the house where the tractor trailer had crashed was frequently used by his children and his visiting nephew. State troopers also noted that if the crash had occurred earlier in the day when the family was more likely to be in that part of the house, the outcome could have been much worse.
No further information is available at this time - Trailer Crashes into 100-Year-Old Home After Driver Falls Asleep.
Information from independent reporting and WGRZ.