Video shows what Julia Dowdy's house looked like Monday. A semi rig lodged in her bedroom, the cab dangling into the basement.
"I'm happy to be alive, that's what it is. It's God's grace that I'm standing here right now because normally I probably would have been in my bed taking a nap or something," said Dowdy.
On Tuesday Dowdy returned to her home to start picking up the pieces. She and her daughter have lived here for the past 15 years.
Now their home will have to be demolished, damaged beyond repair. She couldn't believe her eyes yesterday.
"I was shocked," she told Action News. "I never thought anything possibly could happen like that, not coming from south to northbound. I would never have thought that would happen."
The southbound truck was cut off by a car weaving in and out of traffic. The driver swerved and jumped the guardrail, crossed the northbound lanes and tore a path of destruction through Dowdy's yard before slamming into her house, knocking it off its foundation.
We saw a couple of examples of the tremendous force of the impact: the step to the back door is now several feet from door itself, the corner of the foundation is separated by several feet from the corner of the house, and a drain pipe a yard away from where it used to be.
"It's devastating right now, but we'll get through it," said Dowdy.
Dowdy is covered by insurance and is grateful to the police and fire department for their help. She isn't sure yet if she'll rebuild.
In the meantime, the driver who allegedly caused the entire mess has a long record of traffic violations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
We tried to find Kwame Picou at his apartment in Morrisville, but got no answer. The police expect to file criminal charges against him next Monday.
