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If you're having a rough day you might take some consolation from this: at least your cars and home weren't hit by a rogue boulder.
That's what happened Tuesday night to a family in Athens, Ohio, when the boulder -- about 25 feet in diameter -- broke free from a hillside and gravity took over. The boulder knocked down phone, power and cable lines as it rolled, and only stopped after crushing the cars and tearing off part of the family's home, AthensOhioToday.com reported.
Luckily, no one in the family was hurt, as they all were in another part of the home. The family members were not identified but officials said they and a neighboring family were evacuated until crews can assess the home and nearby hillside.
A witness recalled seeing sparks fly as the boulder took out power lines.
"At first I thought it was thunder," Mary Diles said of the rumbling sound. "Then I saw sparks and thought it was firecrackers."
The boulder even severed a waterline underneath the neighborhood's street.
As for what led to the boulder's destructive journey, Andy Stone, the city's public works chief, said it looks like a combination of tree roots and heavy rain allowed the rock to break free.
Removing the boulder from the cars and house, he added, will require breaking it up into smaller pieces.
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When Jesus gave the parable about a house built upon a solid rock, he said that it withstood wind and storm. I think he deliberately left out falling boulders.
Mother Earths revenge.
That side of the rock facing the camera looks really flat and smooth. Have them roll it into the back yard, flat side up...makes a great patio. Sure as hell won't crack over time or abuse! Really glad the family was in a different part of the house and no one was hurt.
Cause. Ground Vibration from dead Ohio University alumni turning over in their graves after finding out that the basketball team made the sweet sixteen.
Since it is a falling rock and not a full landslide, they might be in luck as a "falling object" but I see a fight in their future.
The old addage takes a new twist, people who live in glass houses "should not live at the bottom of a hill".
Athens, OH is home to Stewart-MacDonald musical instrument supply. I've gotten many a delivery from there. Hope everyone is ok.
If Romney was president he would have prevented this. Bamn Obama!
but since Obama is president it's Bush's fault...
"Papa was a rolling stone, my son.
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.
Rock and Roll baby. Thank God it didn't hit the middle of the house. I think I would try to move
Is this what they mean by being caught between a rock and a hard place?
If the insurance company denies this and claims it was "an act of God" as a reason. They should fight it and require them to prove what god did it, that the particular god exists and have them take that god to court to reclaim damages on their behalf. Until then, cut them a dang check to fix their house while the company goes searching for this "god" that tossed this rock at the house.
A rolling stone gathers no moss...
...but it will eat your car and house.
Yikes, is no place safe?
Where is Edward Cullen when you need him? :)
Honey, wake up, there was a noise outside!
It's probably a raccoon, go to sleep!
Must have fallen off the hull of the Costa Concordia. Glad no one was hurt. At least now they have one beauty of a story to tell around the fireplace. "Remember the time that boulder smashed up the Toyota?" Not many people can say that.
As to the insurance issue, I think it would be covered as either earth movement or landslide. Such events are foreseeable risks, the primary reason we buy insurance.
Rock of ages.
"And after years of starring at the family sedan, the mighty boulder decides to exact its revenge"
or
"YOU VILL BUY A VOLT OR ELSE!"
I wanna rock! But not this one.
Boulder - 2
House - 0
Car - 0
you come outside, your home is destroyed, your car is aflame. what do you say?
ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!
Aw crap, I just made my last payment on the car and changed my car insurance yesterday to liability only.
If I was the home owner I would begin splitting that boulder in half. There has to be a big gold nugget in there.
Boulder! Daaaamn!
The Sierra Club is pissed.............did you see the scratch that car put into that rock.
According to ALLSTATE policy, ACTS OF GOD are not covered. I doubt about getting any insurance benefit..
Prove God did it! I heard he has an alibi for when this happened.