News Story #5

A crash involving a runaway asphalt truck left four people injured, a house in flames and several cities without power in and around El Cerrito today.

The crash happened when the driver of the 10-wheel hauler lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the side of Moeser Lane. Five vehicles were smashed and one power pole snapped in two before the vehicle finally came to a stop after plowing into a residential home, causing both the truck and the single-story house to go up in flames.

El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples was one of the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene and said that he immediately heard cries coming from the burning house and truck. Maples immediately began digging through the debris and found the driver of the truck mangled and unable to move. He and another rescue worker were able to grab his hand and pull him to safety just in the nick of time.

Maples said, "We dragged him out in a heartbeat while the truck went up in flames. I just wanted to get him out of there."

The truck also hit a Honda sedan, which was left so crumpled that rescue workers had to slice and peel back its roof in order to free the driver trapped inside. Two other vehicles, including one with a man and boy inside, were also hit by the truck, but no other injuries were reported.

Ruben Sharma, who lives across the street from the house that was hit, said that at first he thought the crash was an earthquake. “This is unbelievable” he said while looking across the street and surveying the smoldering aftermath of the accident.

The driver of the truck, a San Jose man whose name has not yet been released, broke both of his legs in the crash and is currently listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. We do not currently know how the driver lost control of the vehicle.