A motorist has been cited after colliding with a feed truck, sending it crashing through a nearby church and injuring 3 people.
The crash happened at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 27th in East Earl Township, Pennsylvania.
According to police Chief Kevin McCarthy, 67-year-old Russel Dowdy was stopped at the Union Grove Road and Route 625 intersection when he failed to observe a yield sign and pulled his SUV into the intersection, striking a 2007 Kenworth Grain truck traveling south. The force of the impact sent the Gehman Feed Mill truck careening across the road, over a lawn and through the gymnasium wall of the Bethany Grace Fellowship Church.
The truck driver, 55-year-old Paul M. Martin, as well as Dowdy and one passenger in his SUV, were all transported to a nearby hospital where they were treated for non life threatening injuries, reported Lancaster Online.
The church, located on 400 Reading Road, was severely damaged in the accident, but pastor Adam Nagle is just happy no one was seriously hurt.
“Children had been playing inside the gym about 15 minutes before the crash,” said Nagel.
“If anyone had been in there, with the spray from the concrete block, I’m afraid we’d have quite a tragic outcome… When looking at the truck’s cab, we marvel that he came out alive.”
“Please pray for the truck driver and couple in the car,” Nagel continued.
Route 625 was shut down for several hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage from the road, but it has since been reopened.
