11-11-2000 Revisited
Mt. View Fire Dept Vs. Pickup Truck
Catawba County, NC

I have had a request to repost an event from November 11, 2000 that occurred when a Dodge Dakota Pickup came to an Y-type intersection and the driver did not stop.  The truck crossed the intersection and ran into the Mt. View Fire Dept. Station in the office area, causing a building collapse.  The female driving the pickup was not seriously injured and returned back to the department after getting a broken arm set.  The building had cracks running through out the front of the building and had the possibility of fall.  Fire & Rescue squads were dispatched and a few of the squads had been dealing with confined space rescue and we able to apply a number of principles to this incident.  This was the first dispatch of USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) unit from Troutman.  

 

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Front of the building with pickup inside the office.

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A little closer look at the vehicle & builidng.

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Rescue units start bracing the walls to prevent further collapse.

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The pickup was covered by bricks.

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The bracing continues on the side.

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Troutman Rescue getting set on front of the building.

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Bracing against a solid point to stop further collapse.

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The bracing on the side is nearly completed.

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With bracing in place, trucks are removed from the building.

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With truck out, bracing on the inside began.

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Looking from interior toward pickup.

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Getting ready to pull some of the debris away from the site.

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Debris covers the pickup as Thomasville Rescue arrived and assisted in removing debris.

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Additional bracing is put in place to shore of the upper floor.

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The vehicle is nearly ready to be pulled out of the building.

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Heavy front end damage shows impact with building.

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After being pulled out, the top is pushed into the cab.

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Front end shows heavy damage from impact.

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Interior of the vehicle is still intact.

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Roof nearly pushed down to the bed of truck.

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Front of building after truck removed.

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