Tires stop at edge of man’s bed when pickup truck smashes into Edmonton home

A 25-year-old Edmonton man is likely feeling incredibly lucky after a terrifying close call with a pickup truck while he was asleep at home.

“Gravel and ceiling started coming apart on top of me… I called 911 because I was trapped,” Kyle Roach said. “I wouldn’t be able to reach the door and there was glass and rubble all over the place.”

Roach told Global News he lives in the basement suite of a west end home which a truck crashed into Sunday morning. He said he was sleeping when he suddenly awoke to the sound of a crash and debris flying all around him.

After the crash, the truck’s tires could be seen right next to his blankets, at the very edge of his bed.

“Everybody keeps asking me that [how I got so lucky], that I should get a lotto ticket – I was luckily unhurt, barely any scratches at all.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Everybody keeps asking me that [how I got so lucky], that I should get a lotto ticket - I was luckily unhurt, barely any scratches at all."

Roach said his bed ended up being the safest place to be as the event unfolded.

“I constantly… think about what happened. If my bed would have been just a little bit closer, the truck would have drove on top of me.”

Police said they believe the truck was headed south on 163 Street when it veered off at 102 Avenue, drove across the lawn of a house, crossed the street and then smashed into the side of the house Roach lives in.

They said the 25-year-old man driving the truck was the vehicle’s only occupant and that he had to be extricated from the truck after police smashed out the truck’s windows to be able to reach him. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

“His face was all bloody and he really didn’t say too much,” Roach said, adding he tried to communicate with the driver.

“I was in panic, just shocked.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was in panic, just shocked."

Roach added he believes the driver may have suffered some type of medical episode before the crash.

Police did not say what they believe caused the crash or whether any charges will be laid. They said a structural engineer was expected to arrive at the home later on Sunday to assess its integrity.

Roach, who lives in the home with his grandmother, said his family has insurance and he expects they will need it.

“The truck is pretty deep past the foundation… we can’t live here right now so we’re trying to look into a place to live for a while.”

-With files from Julia Wong