One person was injured when a construction big rig loaded with dirt lost control and plowed into a house near San Carlos Monday afternoon, fire officials said.
The crash was reported at 1:13 p.m. at 260 Windsor Drive near Winding Way in the unincorporated community of Devonshire.
No one was home during the crash, which injured the driver and caused some fuel to leak, fire officials said. The residence, however, suffered major damage. Crews were able to extricate the vehicle from the house shortly after 9 p.m..
The collision also sheared a power pole carrying a 12,000-volt power line, knocking out electricity to roughly 150 homes. PG&E said crews will work through the night to restore power — which they did, but 6 a.m. Tuesday, six hours ahead of schedule.
California Highway Patrol officers say the truck driver, 29-year-old Ulyssis Gonzales of San Jose, told them the truck began to roll downhill after its engine brake failed. He was taken to Stanford Medical Center with moderate injuries.
"It sounded like a freight train coming down the hill — a lot of rattling, banging and a roar," said witness Ron Mauer, who saw the truck barreling through the intersection as well as the driver hauling himself out of the damaged vehicle.
Firefighters from Redwood City and San Carlos joined Cal Fire crews in responding to the crash, Redwood City fire officials said on Twitter. Officials do not suspect that alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident.
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Neighbors say a similar accident happened in the area two years ago, when an SUV crashed into the house at 260 Windsor Drive.
Large trucks are routinely spotted on the neighborhood's winding residential streets, Mauer said.
"Big rigs are just a commonplace thing," he said. "They come through and they use this as an artery to get to wherever they have to go. It's an easy cut-through for them."
Bay City News contributed to this report.
