Semi-trailer truck crashes into Deaf couple’s home
On March 20th, in Brighton, New York (a town near Rochester), a semi-trailer truck crashed into a Deaf couple’s house. Angela Guerci, who is Deaf and Jon Paul Guerci, who is DeafBlind, have lived in that house for 15 years. Both of them have 3 kids. Angela and her 3rd kid who is 9 years old were the only ones in the house during the time and the family is grateful that it was not a “full” house when the semi-trailer truck crashed in. We will show you a video clip from a local news:
(4-VIDEO “TRUCKCRASH”: Credit to WROCK NEWS 8)
Based on a news article, on that night there was a snow squall- this is when there is a big burst of heavy snowfall with gusty winds and you cannot see anything. People would call this a “white-out.” Investigators said that it seems a car spun out of control on the roadway and hit the truck, causing it to go off-road and crash into the house. We reached out to Angela and Jon Paul for an interview to explain their experience. Here is their story:
Angela Guerci: I was sitting at the fireplace putting wood. My back was facing the front of the house. My son saw the lights flicker. I didn’t notice as I was focused on the fireplace. Then I felt a big shift. But I hadn’t looked. I felt the floor moving.
Renca: You felt a shift.
Angela: But then, before I even saw it – I saw the whole head of the truck. The hub, the head of the vehicle. It was already passing the front door. I saw it still moving. The truck crashed. My son already jumped out and moved away because there were debris. Wood, drywall, and other things. There was a mess. I could smell the oil and the engine. The truck had some kind of loud, audible alarm. My son covered up his ears and was crying. He was obviously scared.
Renca: Yeah.
Angela: I took my son with me. The fire was starting up. We both ran to the dining room. We sat and I made sure he was okay. I took out my phone and called 911. I was looking at the scene and making a call. I got connected with an operator. Then about two minutes later, the driver came around and entered through the rear sliding door. He had blood on his head and shoulders.
Renca: He was bleeding?
Angela: I was completely shocked. My son was inconsolable. I told him to sit down and ran to get a towel and applied pressure to the driver’s wounds. I was also calling 911 and telling about the truck hitting my house. Less than five minutes later, ambulances arrived. Two firemen showed up and got us out. As I was walking and following the firefighters, all I remember outside is seeing my neighbor standing near a telephone pole that snapped. I then saw the truck. It was an 18-wheeler. It was blocking my house. I blacked out. I can’t remember what happened after that. I was taken to a hospital. I stayed there for an overnight evaluation. My son was with police officers.
Jon Paul Guerci: I got a video call out of blue that said there was an emergency and that I had to go home right now. They said that a truck hit my house, that it was a big 18-wheeler. I was shocked. The caller showed me the house and I was completely shocked.
Angela: We are now in a hotel for a month. We were in a temporary room for two days and two nights. Now we are at a different hotel where we are living right now for a month. We are working with our insurance company who will try to find a temporary house for us to live in long-term. Until they figure out what to do with the house.
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Thank you both for your time. Angela and Jon Paul said that their house is unlivable right now. There are ways to help this family, as they need financial support and donations of items. We have included a link to their GoFundMe, where you can find more information on what to donate. Our thoughts are with the Guerci family, and we are glad that everyone is okay.
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/90960d02