18-wheeler crashes into house, van

WILMER, Ala. (WALA) - Debbie McAdams said she is still in shock after an 18-wheeler crashed through her den during rush hour traffic.

Alabama State Troopers say the driver of an 18-wheeler swerved to miss a car that stopped in front of him and crashed into McAdams' house.

Now, she said she's trying to feel comfortable in her home again. But with part of the roof torn off, her porch in pieces and part of her living room caved in, it hasn't been easy.

"You just feel vulnerable, you don't feel safe," said McAdams.

The incident happened at a home off Moffett Road just west of Waltman Road. The 18-wheeler took out the whole side of the home before crashing into a van. Alabama State Troopers say the driver of the truck swerved to miss a car that stopped in front of him.

The truck’s tank was empty.

McAdams says she was sitting on the couch when the tanker truck crashed through the walls right beside her. She says she dove out of the way to avoid being hit.

"We heard this awful roar and the ground was shaking," said McAdams.

The driver of the truck also walked away without injury.

"When you look at the truck, that man should be dead. It was smashed in and he had a few cuts and scrapes," said McAdams.

The family says cars have run off the road before.

"This has happened twice. It never hit our house but a couple weeks ago it took all this firework signs out and our mailbox," said Dalton Purvis.

So many crashes happen along Highway 98, the road sometimes goes by another name.

"This stretch of highway has a nickname, bloody 98," said Alabama State Tropper Sgt.Joe Piggot.