A semi-truck driver was transported to Van Buren County Hospital Wednesday morning after his vehicle left Highway 1 and crashed into a Birmingham residence, causing significant structural damage.
The accident occurred at 8:11 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 1 and Cedar Street when John Miller, 56, of Ottawa, Kansas, was driving south through Birmingham. According to the accident report, Miller swerved to the left, narrowly missed two high line poles, and entered the west yard of Charles Countryman’s residence before striking both the house and garage.
Miller told investigators that he didn’t remember going off the road, and authorities believe he may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He was transported to Van Buren County Hospital by ambulance for treatment.
The crash caused extensive damage to the Countryman property, with an estimated $20,000 in damages to the home alone. The house’s foundation appears to have been pushed in at the point of contact, while the garage looks to be structurally compromised, raising questions about its continued safety and usability.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from inside the residence at the time of the crash.
The accident has created ongoing traffic disruptions in the Birmingham area. Highway 1 currently has lane closures in place while crews work to extract the semi-truck from the roadside where it came to rest after the collision.
Adding to the traffic complications, there is also a separate lane closure in the area for high line service work, further limiting traffic flow through the intersection of Highway 1 and Cedar Street.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and use caution when traveling through Birmingham while cleanup and recovery operations continue. The duration of the lane closures has not been announced, as it depends on how long it takes to safely remove the semi-truck and assess any additional damage to roadside infrastructure.
