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'It's a miracle' -- none injured by runaway truck in Kane |
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Written by Publisher
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Saturday, 24 July 2010 |
Police at site of collision
Photo by Ted Lutz
Kane Police Officer Bill Nichols handles paperwork at the scene where a runaway driver-less truck (left) struck an unoccupied truck (right) parked at the rear of a residence at 194 Fraley St. Police said it's "a miracle" that no one was injured in the Friday afternoon crash because the path of the runaway truck crossed busy Fraley Street, a sidewalk and a parking lot where several vehicles were parked.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
A driver-less runaway pickup truck crossed busy Fraley Street in Kane on Friday afternoon and miraculously missed heavy traffic, sidewalk pedestrians and a huge tree before slamming into an unoccupied parked truck.
"It's a miracle that no one was hurt," Kane Police Officer Bill Nichols said as he looked over the 150-yard path taken by the runaway truck. "Fortunately, no one was in the area at the time."
The incident began shortly at 1 p.m. Friday when Brian Bailey, 33, of 203 Union St., Smethport, parked his silver 2002 Toyota pickup truck on the Poplar Street side of the Subway parking lot at Fraley and Poplar streets.
When Bailey went inside Subway to order food, his parked truck with a standard transmission apparently "popped out of gear," police said.
The truck then began to roll on its precarious journey.
According to police, the runaway truck:
•Crossed busy Fraley Street (Route 6). At this time of day, the main street in Kane often has bumper-to-bumper traffic. But the driver-less truck somehow crossed the street without colliding with a passing vehicle.
•Jumped a curb on the north side of Fraley Street. Markings on the grass berm show the truck's path.
•Crossed a sidewalk where pedestrians often are walking. Many mothers also push their babies in strollers on this sidewalk, which is elevated from the curb and the street.
•Narrowly missed a huge hemlock tree located between the sidewalk and the parking lot for the SMP Pharmacy.
•Rolled down a steep grassy embankment along the parking lot for the pharmacy.
•Crossed the parking lot where several vehicles were parked. By luck, the runaway truck traveled directly through a narrow opening between rows of parked vehicles.
•Rolled down another embankment adjacent to a residence at 194 Fraley St.
•Tore through a flower box on the residential property and narrowly missed hitting another tree.
•Crashed into a black 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck parked at the rear of the residence. The Chevrolet truck, owned by Theodore Johnson of 194 Fraley St., was pushed eight feet by the impact, police said.
The collision caused "moderate damage" to both vehicles, police said. The runaway truck sustained right front-end damage and was towed by McKeirnan's of Smethport. The parked black truck sustained damage to the right rear end, police said.
Police said an unidentified "young male adult" on foot tried to jump in the runaway truck as it began to roll from its parking spot at Subway, police said.
"He was unable to catch up with it," Officer Nichols said in describing the man's vain attempt to stop the runaway truck.
No charges will be filed, police said.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 26 July 2010 )
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