Tractor-Trailer Driver Says He Swerved To Avoid Raccoon Before Crashing Into Lynn Home, 4 Cars And Utility Pole

LYNN (CBS) - A tractor-trailer driver told Lynn Police he swerved to avoid hitting a raccoon before he slammed into four cars, a utility pole and then a house early Tuesday morning.

The driver, a 29-year-old man from Rhode Island, was hauling frozen foods on Western Avenue around 4:30 a.m. when he lost control of the truck and crashed. No one was hurt. The driver, who was not identified, was cited for reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

"He told officers he swerved to avoid a raccoon that was in the road," said Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec.

The impact took out the front porch of a home and beams that support a second floor porch.

"It woke me up. A loud boom and I come out, I looked, and I saw a tractor trailer right up on the sidewalk," neighbor Rose Watson told WBZ-TV. "I've been here 32 years and I can't even tell you how many accidents have been on this street."

A hazardous material crew was called in to clean up diesel fuel that started leaking from the truck. National Grid cut the power to the entire block while the pole was replaced. A building inspector was also brought in to assess the damage to the house.

"They deemed that the home can not be occupied. They are going to try and do some repairs on it," said Kmiec. "The concern is the foundation of the home was damaged from one of the vehicles being pushed into the house."

"I'd have rather hit the raccoon than do that," said Watson. "I mean really, five people, six people live in that house. They could have been killed!"

Western Avenue was shut down in both directions between Chestnut and Chatham streets, but re-opened around 8 a.m.

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