November 9, 2017 - Residents at Southwood Apartments Center Housing Authority received a loud awakening Thursday, November 9, 2017 when a moving truck plowed into the main office of the facility.
Stacy Williams, who works at the facility, was inside the building as the truck collided with the structure and she said it felt and sounded like a freight train hit the building. She was able to see the truck as it rolled through a fence at the side of the building.
Von Hayes, who also works at the housing complex, had not made it in to work just yet when the crash occurred and her office was where the truck came to rest in the building.
Miguel Da Cruz works maintenance on the grounds and he had just walked out of the building to perform his duties before the truck hit.
"When I came out I saw him trying to get out of the door, but then I went to check my boss to see she was okay because she was still in the building. I guess a bystander came and by the time I got out here he was out with two other people. I was talking to him, making sure he's okay," said Da Cruz.
Emergency personnel with the Center Police Department, Center Fire Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety all responded to the location.
After the driver exited from the vehicle, ACE EMS transported him from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department to check him for any injuries.
According to Center Police Officer Kenneth King and Center Police Sgt. Ricky King, at 7:18am a Toyota Hino 268 moving truck owned by Moving Guys For Rent and driven by Emil Kariem Walker, 39, of Bossier City, Louisiana was southbound on Southview Circle in Center.
For an unknown reason the Toyota traveled across the northbound traffic lane and left the roadway where it then traveled over a culvert. The truck then struck a dumpster in the parking lot of Here's The Deal where it collided with various other items in the parking lot.
The truck then traveled over several parking blocks in the parking lot and into San Augustine Street before rolling into Southwood Apartments where it collided with a bus stop structure. The truck traveled through a fence and into the side of the office building for the apartment complex causing major damage to the vehicle and building.
Walker was treated and released from the hospital. No citations have been issued at this time and the incident remains under investigation.
Hopkins Wrecker Service pulled the truck from the building and towed it from the scene.
