Fire Truck Hits City Hall in New York

June 28, 2005
A firefighter drove a truck into City Hall Tuesday after finding himself unable to stop.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- A firefighter drove a truck into City Hall Tuesday after finding himself unable to stop, a fire official said.

The driver and a second firefighter in the vehicle were taken to a hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries.

City Hall, meanwhile, sported a scrape of red paint but no other damage.

''Rather than going down the street unable to stop, he chose to hit City Hall,'' said Battalion Chief Anthony Hynes. ''City Hall's a monolithic building, I mean it can take a direct hit from anything.''

Before striking City Hall, the fire truck, a mobile air unit used to recharge breathing units, struck a car. The driver of the car also was hospitalized with injuries that did not appear life-threatening, Hynes said.

The chief said the cause of the accident was under investigation but that it appeared a piece of equipment may have become caught in the brake.

The truck was responding to a report of smoke at a downtown mall.

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