UPDATE: 8-Legged Menace Causes Pickup Truck Crash That Closes Road In Manchester

It’s likely that Thomas A. Buchko of Manchester feels some kinship with with Little Miss Muffett, after his experience Tuesday afternoon.

Buchko, 41, was minding his own business, driivng along Ridgeway Boulevard about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday when a large spider decided it was going to plop down beside him in the truck.

There was just one problem. Instead of dropping beside Buchko, the spider dropped down right in front of Buchko’s face.

(Admit it. You‘ve got the willies just reading that.)

According to a news release from Manchester Police Capt. Lisa Parker, Buchko swatted at the spider and in the process lost control of his pickup truck, which hit a utility pole, breaking it.

Buchko suffered an eye injury when the airbag deployed but was otherwise unhurt, according to the release. He was out of the truck by the time Manchester Patrolmen Michael Lynch and Robert Maccaquano arrived, and was treated at the scene for swelling around his right eye by the Manchester First Aid, but refused further treatment, Parker said. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Ridgeway Boulevard has been reopened since the crash near the River Point adult community. The roadway was closed between closed between Route 547 and Route 571 while Jersey Central Power and Light secured the broken pole, Parker said.

There was no word on the fate of the spider.