The accident transpired when an asphalt truck ran out of control, leaving a path of crushed vehicles and a snapped power pole in its wake. According to witness Ruben Sharma, who lives on Moeser Lane across the street from the single-story home that was burnt to rubble, the crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. “First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable", Sharma said as he stood in his front yard that was cluttered with bricks, car parts, glass and other debris from the accident.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, who was one of the first rescue workers on the scene, immediately heard cries coming from both the house and the truck. After digging through the burning wreckage, he spotted the driver stuck between the wheels of the truck and unable to move, his legs crippled by the over turned truck. Maples seized the drivers hand and with the help of Police Chief Scott Kirkland and Detective Ken Zinc, was able to pull him to safety. 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, the force folding it like an accordion and trapping the driver inside. Rescue workers moved quickly, severing the roof and peeling it back like a can of tuna, freeing the driver in the process. Two other vehicles were also hit by the truck, but no other injuries were reported.
The driver of the runaway truck broke both of his legs and is listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
1 comment:
Good, but I'd put one or two more details in the lead (asphalt truck, for example), and try to combine it all into one sentence.
Shorter paragraphs, please. Make Sharma's quote its own paragraph. Ditto for Maples' quote. And split the last paragraph in half.
14/15
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