Parking brake mishap causes truck to crash into car, house

A parking brake malfunction caused a semitractor to crash into a Cape Girardeau home and family vehicle Saturday.

At 5:20 p.m., Cape Girardeau police responded to the call at 2034 Pamela Drive.

Officers at the scene said no one was in either vehicle at the time of the crash and that the truck's parking brake had failed. That caused the big rig, which had been parked at the top of Lee Drive, to roll downhill, striking a family's sport utility vehicle parked in the driveway and pushing it into the garage, causing damage to its brick wall and garage door.

The homeowner, John Russell, said he was in the family room when he heard a loud racket, and his dogs had started barking.

Russell said he was thankful there were no injuries and no children were playing in the street or driveway at the time.

Russell's SUV was badly damaged. The truck appeared to have sustained minimal damage.

Pertinent address:

2034 Pamela Drive, Cape Girardeau