TOOELE, Utah — Several cars crashed and a semi-truck drove into a dealership building, catching fire in Tooele on Friday. The cause remains under investigation.
Tooele City Police have confirmed several vehicles were involved in an accident on Vine Street minutes before a semi went through the front of the Tooele Motor Company building, starting a fire at the building's east side.
This semi had struck multiple vehicles on its way into the building. Officials say the fire has since been extinguished but not before leaving extensive damage to the building itself. The vehicles struck by the semi-truck include 10 to 15 brand-new vehicles.
VIDEO BELOW: Dashcam captures moment when the truck barrels through traffic (via Austin England)
Police say as many as 11 individuals were affected during the incidents, with one individual being flown to a hospital in critical condition.
Originally Main Street was closed down from 400 North to 1000 North. Northbound traffic through Main Street has since been reopened as crews continue to clean up debris.
The driver of the semi-truck is cooperating with the investigation, an investigation into the earlier crash on Vine Street is also ongoing.
For Tooele resident Tony Garner, his life flashed before his own eyes when the crash interrupted his otherwise routine errand run.
“I see a semi coming straight at me, and I was hoping it was going to regain its, whatever, to drive straight, and it didn't, and it hit the car right in front of me, and that's when I just closed my eyes and prayed.”
Realizing he was alive, he immediately jumped out of his car, he said.
“I had got out, checked on the guy in the truck that was flipped over,” said Garner. “We got him pulled out successfully. He was covered in blood. It was just horrifying.”
People working at the car dealership, like CJ Goldsberry, watched the front of the Ford building go up in flames.
“It smashed into the front of the Ford building and just lit up on fire and everything,” he said. “Other cars started exploding. It was pandemonium. It was really crazy.”
“I've never seen an accident this big in Tooele city in my 17 years here,” said Lieutenant Jeremy Hansen.
Lt Hansen was driving on Main Street, right behind Garner and watched the last crash happen.
“As soon as I stepped on my car, there was a police officer there, like an angel appeared,” said Garner.
In photos shared with FOX 13 News, there appear to be several cars involved in a crash nearby with the Tooele Ford dealership building having experienced fire damage of some kind.
Stay with FOX 13 News and fox13now.com for updates on this breaking news story.
