Fruit

The Palatka Fruit Market on U.S. 17 was demolished this morning when the driver of a logging truck lost consciousness and drove into the $250,000 building head-on, Florida Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the truck, Willie J. Davis, 53, Palatka, was taken to the Putnam Community Medical Center shortly after the 2 a.m. incident in serious condition, FHP said.

Witnesses said Davis was driving in the inside eastbound lane when he suddenly began to drift into the outside lane and then off the road.

A cashier in the fruit market building when the crash occurred told troopers she saw the truck coming and was able to get out of the way just as the truck demolished the building.

Troopers said the structure was "totally destroyed" in the accident and and building officials in Putnam county declared it no longer safe for occupancy.

Davis, who was not wearing a seatbelt, told troopers he blacked out just before the crash.

Troopers said alcohol was not a factor in the accident.