GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A man is in critical condition after he lost control of his truck, hitting a power pole and a residential carport early Wednesday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 27-year-old Donald McRae was speeding northbound on Oak Ridge Avenue about 1:40 a.m. when he lost control of his truck and knocked over a wooden power pole.
Troopers said McRae was traveling well above the posted 30 mph speed limit and continued into a home at 706 Oakridge Ave., crashing into two Cadillacs parked underneath a carport attached to the brick home.
According to the report, the parked vehicles rotated to the left and struck a pillar, causing the carport to collapse.
Troopers said McRae was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was transported to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries.
No one inside the home was injured.
Charges are pending and FHP is investigating to see if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
McRae has 12 previous traffic citations dating to 2005, including for unlawful speed, leaving the scene of a crash before police could arrive, reckless driving and failing to observe a stop sign.
The family that lives in the home spent all of Wednesday cleaning up.
"You know, your heart sinks and you think, is she OK?" said Tim Downing, whose mother lives in the home. "But I knew she was OK because she called me."
Downing said he's still in disbelief seeing what happened to the house he grew up in.
"I kind of know what the people in a hurricane or tornado feel like when they go in and see this," he said. "My mom has lived here a long time."
Downing said his mother was inside at the time of the crash. State troopers said McRae was driving well over the 30 mph speed limit. Just down the street is the Green Cove Springs city limit, where the speed limit changes quickly.
"We've all the time got trucks going this way," Downing said. "Most of them observe that speed limit, plus or minus 5. But occasionally there will be somebody that is wide open and just won't be paying attention. They'll come off that 55 into 30.
"I just hope and pray the gentleman is OK. I know that every now and then stuff like this has to happen."
Downing said the family has been in contact with the insurance company and is sorting through everything. They hope to have everything taken care of as soon as possible.
The home is safe to stay in, but the family has been asked to avoid the front door, so they're entering through the side.