A body found in the Maumee River this morning has been identified as Maurice Watson, 45, of Edina, Minnesota, according to Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn. Watson was the driver of a semi truck that drove into a house this morning in Grand Rapids. He then reportedly took off running toward the Maumee River.
The Wood County coroner was called to the scene, and an investigation is ongoing.
Earlier this morning, Wasylyshyn said his office’s drone is looking for the driver from the air, a boat is searching from the river, and a K-9 unit is searching on the ground.
No one in the Second Street home was injured when the truck hit the house around 7:52 a.m.
According to Wasylyshyn, the trucking company that owns the semi reported that they had been trying to contact the driver since Tuesday. The company GPS had shown that he was off the assigned route since Tuesday.
In addition to hitting the house, the truck reportedly also struck two vehicles.
Wasylyshyn said there were concerns that the driver was experiencing some mental health or medical issues.
“He needs help,” the sheriff said.
A Nixle alert was sent out to phones of Grand Rapids area residents, letting them know of the driver being sought by law enforcement. He was described as African American male wearing a maroon shirt and jeans.
