An emergency vehicle crashed into a building overnight in Rockland County, tearing into the structure and leaving several people badly hurt. The crash brought a heavy rescue response to a residential block and left a two-story building severely damaged.
The crash happened in West Haverstraw, at 4 East Railroad Avenue. The impact was severe enough that, from the street, onlookers could see straight into the building, a stark measure of the force with which the vehicle struck.
The structure that was hit was a two-story building, and officials said it sustained extensive damage. What had been a solid facade was left broken open, raising immediate concerns about the stability of what remained standing.
Because of the danger, the Rockland County fire collapse team was called in. Crews worked both to assist with rescues and to shore up the building, a specialized effort aimed at keeping the weakened structure from coming down further while people were pulled from the scene.
Several people were badly hurt in the crash. Authorities said the injured were rushed to two hospitals, Nyack Hospital and Westchester Medical Center, though there was no word on their conditions in the immediate aftermath.
Investigators were still working to determine exactly how the crash happened. With the vehicle having plowed into an occupied building overnight, questions about the circumstances of the collision remained open as the scene was examined.
For a quiet Rockland County street, the overnight crash turned into a major emergency, drawing a collapse team, ambulances and investigators to a badly damaged building. Authorities said the crash remained under investigation as they worked to account for everyone affected and to understand what led to it.