Semi plows into home

MENDON - Nobody was seriously injured after a semitrailer veered off U.S. 127 and into a house, crashing through part of a living room and bedroom on Wednesday morning.

Mercer County Sheriff's deputies, Rockford Fire Department and emergency medical squads from Rockford and Celina were called to 11141 U.S. 127 at about 8:29 a.m. on a report of a semitrailer that had veered off the road, run through a ditch and a field and into a house.

Mercer County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Gery Thobe told the newspaper that Mark McGurk, 52, Toledo, had been traveling northbound on U.S. 127 when he reportedly had a "coughing spell," which caused him to lose control of his truck and go off the left side of the road.

McGurk's truck came to a rest in the home of Johnny and Raeh Harrod and their two young children. Raeh Harrod reportedly was dressing the children on a bed when the cab of the truck came through the house, lodging itself halfway between the bedroom and the living room. The house had been moved about a foot off its foundation by the impact, Thobe said.

Raeh Harrod and the children were removed from the house without injury.

McGurk initially reported no injuries, but later reported dizziness and was tended to by emergency medical personnel at the scene.

Thobe said deputies were on scene for about five hours, but he believes the stability of the house was still being evaluated late Wednesday afternoon. Emergency responders were able to remove the cab of the truck from the house, but Thobe said the house was not safe and might need to be destroyed. He believed the Harrods were staying with relatives in the area.

McGurk was cited by the Mercer County sheriff's deputies for failure to control, but Thobe also said state highway patrol troopers had cited him for driving while ill.