BUFFALO, N.Y. — A collision involving a garbage truck and a bridge on Clinton Street in Buffalo sent two natural gas tanks used to power the vehicle flying, hitting two nearby homes.
Fire officials said the Modern Disposal truck hit the bridge on Clinton near Fillmore Avenue around 6:30 a.m. A driver and one passenger suffered minor injuries and no one inside either home was hurt.
Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo later pieced together what happened at a 1 p.m. press conference at which he explained the truck actually had five natural gas tanks mounted to the top of the vehicle, but that it's believed only two of them had their pressure release valves sheered off when the truck hit the bridge heading west on Clinton Street.
"It was a rapid release of compressed gas and that generates a lot of force. It's basically like a giant bottle rocket if you can imagine that," Renaldo said.
According to the Commissioner one tank traveled roughly 100 yards and hit a light pole, the second cylinder traveled an even farther 200 yards, ricocheted off a nearby home, and ended up in the second floor bedroom of a neighboring home.
2 On Your Side spoke to the owner Lester Alston on the phone Wednesday in between calls with his insurance company. He said it felt like a "car" or "missile" had hit his home.
"I was about to close my eyes when the whole house went up and came down... the whole house shook and I heard the bang," Alston said.
The tank left a near-perfect outline in the side of Alston's home that he was grateful to have patched up later Wednesday evening.
Jennifer Merriweather told 2 On Your Side she and her husband heard and felt the boom over a mile and a half away.
"It shook the whole house...we didn't know exactly what it was we're calling the neighbors and wondering what it was," Merriweather said.
She was grateful to hear that no one was hurt.
Modern Disposal Vice President of Communications and Public Relations Julie Berrigan released a statement Wednesday morning addressing the incident.
"We are very grateful that neither our personnel nor anyone from the public was hurt. The incident is under investigation and once that is complete, we will provide further comments. We appreciate the swift response and support from all first responders."
When asked about the driver of the garbage truck Commissioner Renaldo said to his knowledge the individual had not been issued any citations as of Wednesday afternoon. He described the incident as an "obvious lapse of judgment" but added that it was dark out at 6:30 a.m.
"Every driver every company just has to be more cognizant there are height requirements all the bridges and underpasses as clearly marked and they should know what their limits are," Renaldo said.
Whether more bridge signage and lighting are needed, Renaldo said that discussion would have to happen among other City of Buffalo departments.
