Man hit by semi; out-of-control truck smashes into a house
By Laura Collins
Published in News on July 7, 2009 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Semi-truck operator Teresa Creech Morgan sits in the grass behind her cab after her truck hit an elderly man who had just finished mowing his lawn and then plowed into a house on Luby Smith Road, off U.S. Highway 70, near Princeton on Monday morning. State troopers stated that William Godwin was partially in the road at the time of the accident, and the driver lost control and hit the house at 389 Luby Smith Road.
A Princeton man was in critical condition Monday night after being struck by a truck before it plowed into a nearby home.
William Godwin, 71, was likely blowing grass off the road with his push lawn mower at 389 Luby Smith Road when he was struck, officials said.
The semi, which did not have a trailer, was coming around a curve and driving north on Luby Smith Road at about 50 miles per hour, State Highway Patrol Trooper R.T. Edwards said.
The driver, Teresa Morgan, 50, of Goldsboro, then allegedly lost control of the truck and veered left, hitting a utility pole before colliding with the house at 368 Luby Smith Road.
The truck smashed through the home's front door and came to a stop in the living room.
No one was injured inside the house.
Godwin was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital then transported by medical helicopter to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Edwards said the crash is still under investigation, but said Ms. Morgan was not at fault and that it is unlikely Godwin will be charged for standing in the street.
Morgan was driving for K&E Farm Trucking out of Princeton.