Car Crashes into CA Fire Station, Just Missing Firefighter

A car slammed into the living area of a Rialto fire station Friday night, June 26, almost striking a firefighter and leaving a stew of smashed furniture, broken glass and vehicle fluid behind as it reversed out of the building.

The firefighter, an engineer who is a veteran of 15 years, was sitting about 3 feet from where the front quarter of the car went into the building, Battalion Chief Cory Cisneros said Saturday. The firefighter was treated at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton for minor injuries and released. He is expected to spend two weeks recovering at home, Cisneros said Saturday.

“If it was a foot to the north, we’d be having a funeral,” Cisneros said.

Cisneros said the driver appeared to be about 19. He also was hospitalized with minor injuries, Cisneros said.

Rialto police could not be reached for comment on the circumstances of the crash Saturday.

The station remained open Saturday, Cisneros said.

Station 201, at 131 S. Willow Ave., sits at the east end of a T intersection with W. Rialto Avenue. Cisneros said the driver was going east on Rialto Avenue and went straight through the intersection and into the building. It’s about the third time the station has been hit this way, Cisneros said.

Discussions are already underway about placing something in front of the station to prevent yet another crash, he added.

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