A North Carolina truck driver is dead of what appears to be aheart attack, but officials said it was lucky there was no otherdamage done when his 18-wheeler ran off Highway 51 and into abuilding Tuesday night.

Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris said Ricky E. Hardy, 53, ofGinger Spice Lane in Charlotte, N.C., was traveling south onHighway 51 around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday when he suffered some kind ofmedical condition that caused him to lose control of his rig.

“It looks like he might have had a heart attack and run off theroad at that point and hit the side of the building,” McMorrissaid.

McMorris said Hardy, who worked for Bright Trucking Company, wastransported from the scene to King’s Daughters Medical Center,where he died in the emergency room around an hour later.

Hardy’s truck hit an empty unit in the building, which sits nearthe corner of Chickasaw Street and Highway 51. The buildingcurrently houses Judy’s Shoes and We Frame it.

Assistant Police Chief Nolan Jones said witnesses reportedseeing the truck as it left the road.

“According to both witnesses, they stated the vehicle left theroadway and jumped the ditch in front of the Bank of Franklin,” hesaid. “Then it got back on Chickasaw and hit the side of the WeFrame It building.”

That ditch, as well as a power pole, may have been what keptfurther damage from being done, though there was a sizeable hole inthe side of the building.

“If that ditch hadn’t been there, my shop would be gone,” saidWe Frame It owner Matt Hall.

Officials said the fact that Entergy had to cut the power off tothe pole also rendered the intersection of Brookway and Highway 51without power temporarily.

Hardy’s body has been sent to the Mississippi State Crime Labfor an autopsy, after which it will be transported to his hometown,McMorris said. He leaves behind a wife, Miriam Hardy, and somechildren.