JOUR 61: News Story 5

A truck ran out of control yesterday in Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, leaving a path of destruction in its wake: a snapped power pole, five damaged vehicles and several injuries.
The big asphalt truck, a 10-wheel hauler, overturned and crashed into somebody’s home, causing both to go up in flames.
El Cerrito police Detective Sgt. Shawn Maples, one of the first rescue workers to arrive at the scene, heard cries coming from the scene and dug through the debris. He found the truck driver lodged between the wheels of the truck, which was turned over on its side. The driver’s legs were mangled and he couldn’t move.
Maples grabbed his hand and with help from Police chief Scott Kirkland and Detective Ken Zinc, he 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.”
A Honda Sedan was left so crumpled after being hit by the truck, that the driver was left trapped inside. Rescue workers sliced into it, peeling back the roof to free the trapped driver.
An electrician’s truck, parked on Moeser was knocked over to the next street, Richmond. Also, a sport utility vehicle that apparently had a man and boy inside ended up stuck in some shrubbery beside the burning house.
Ruben Sharma, who lives across the street from the one-story home that was destroyed in the fire. He was just about to head back to work around 1:30 p.m. when the crash occurred. He said, “First, I thought it was a major earthquake. This is unbelievable.” His front yard is littered with bricks, broken glass, car parts, splintered wood and palm fronds.
The snapped power pole knocked out power in El Cerrito and some neighboring cities, including El Cerrito and Berkeley.
The driver, a San Jose man whose name was not released, broke both of his legs in the crash. He is listed in serious but stable condition at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.