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Rude awakening: Tim and Joanne Anderson were sleeping soundly until the neighbor stopped in

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Tim Anderson, of Fort Dodge, looks through the remains of what had been a fish tank that was destroyed early Tuesday morning when a pickup truck crashed into his home in the 1400 block of North 14th Street.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Tim Anderson, of Fort Dodge, looks through the remains of what had been a fish tank that was destroyed early Tuesday morning when a pickup truck crashed into his home in the 1400 block of North 14th Street.

Tim and Joanne Anderson, of 1748 N. 14th St., were awakened early Tuesday morning to an unwelcome surprise.

They were sleeping soundly in an upstairs bedroom when a pickup truck came crashing through their front door and into their living room.

Tim Anderson’s immediate reaction was to hop out of bed.

“The full truck was in our living room,” Tim Anderson said. “They used the Jaws of Life to extract him right in our living room.”

According to Fort Dodge police, the pickup was driven by David Rhodes, 65, of Fort Dodge, the Andersons’ neighbor.

While the crash certainly woke the pair, it was the loud roar of the pickup’s engine running at full speed that was almost deafening, Tim Anderson said.

He shut off the truck’s ignition and called 911.

Later, he was able to reconstruct what happened.

“My neighbor came home about 1:40,” he said. “He tried to back into his garage and caused damage to his house. He put it in gear and came shooting across.”

Damage to the home across the street at 1745 N. 14th St. was evident Tuesday, as were what appeared to be skid marks leading away from the home’s damaged garage. Tracks from the pickup and the tow truck used to pull it from the home covered the Andersons’ lawn.

Emergency personnel were dispatched to the home at 1:44 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters used a hydraulic spreader and hydraulic cutter to free the victim from the truck.

Rhodes suffered minor injuries, according to Lt. Matt Lundberg, of the Fort Dodge Police Department.

Because the truck blocked the home’s stairs, firefighters helped the Andersons get out of the house by climbing through the bed of the pickup truck.

Firefighters shut off the gas and electricity to the home.

Emergency personnel were on the scene until 3 a.m.

The Andersons no longer have a functional front door — a section of it was pushed up against the living room wall.

“Part of it is over there,” Tim Anderson said, pointing to a wall.

The truck did structural damage, smashed two large fish tanks, and damaged or destroyed several pieces of furniture. Water from the fish tanks also caused damage and many of the fish died.

One of his prize fish was saved by the Fort Dodge Fire Department.

“They helped me scoop some of them up,” he said, pointing to a large fish swimming in a tank in the basement.

“That one,” he said, indicating something about 2 inches long, “I’ve had it for 20 years since it was this big.”

It will be awhile before the Andersons can live in their home again. On Tuesday, they were meeting with their insurance adjuster.

“It’s a disaster,” Anderson said. “Our adjuster said it’s the worst vehicle versus house he’s seen.”

Neither of the Andersons were hurt and their dog, who was sleeping in the kitchen, survived unscathed.

“She’s fine,” he said.

Rhodes was transported to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center before later being taken to a Des Moines hospital for further evaluation.

The Fort Dodge Police Department is continuing to investigate.

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