Tractor-trailer hits Scranton home, catches fire
Sep. 2—SCRANTON — A tractor-trailer plowed into a house and caught fire in the city's Minooka section early Friday, setting the home's front porch ablaze.
The crash happened about 1:51 a.m. in the 3200 block of Birney Avenue.
City officials said the Gress Refrigerated Services tractor-trailer was traveling south when it veered off the right side of street, sheared off a utility pole and struck two parked vehicles before hitting the porch of the house at 3280 Birney.
The truck tractor then caught fire, with the roiling flames spreading to the porch of the two-story house, Fire Chief John Judge said.
Firefighters responded and had the fire out within 25 minutes, he said.
"They had to take several precautions because there were (power) lines down everywhere," Judge said.
City police identified the driver as John Radle, 74, of Dickson City. He was taken to a hospital with minor injuries for an evaluation, officials said.
Two people were in the home when the crash happened, Judge said. They were not injured.
The home's front porch had extensive damage, and fire damaged the front exterior of the house. Judge said flames did not extend into the house.
The trailer also appeared to be mostly undamaged, he said.
The crash knocked out power to a couple thousand PPL Electric Utilities customers initially, the chief said. About 200 remained without service for several hours while PPL crews replaced the snapped utility pole.
Tom McDermott, who lives a few houses away at 3262 Birney, went outside to investigate after hearing the crash.
"Power lines were bouncing on the road, sparking all over," he said.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132.
