STOCKTON, Calif. — One person was critically injured and five others suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a multi-vehicle crash where a fire engine slammed into a Stockton home Wednesday.
The Stockton Police Department said officers responded to reports of a crash involving a Stockton fire engine around 7 a.m. The crash happened at the intersection of West Lane and East Alpine Avenue.
Stockton Police Department spokesperson David Scott says a sedan traveling east on Alpine Avenue hit the fire engine as it drove north on West Lane. According to police, the engine had lights and sirens on at the time and was en route to a nearby fire call.
The force of the first crash caused the engine to drive over the median of West Lane and slam into a pickup truck causing the truck to roll over, police said. The engine came to a rest inside a home, near the house's front door.
The driver of the truck was taken to a hospital and is listed in critical condition, according to the police department. A man driving the sedan was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
There were four firefighters in the fire engine at the time of the crash. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"After that collision, the firefighters did get out and start assessing the scene and providing that necessary first responding attention to everyone involved," said Scott.
The home's owner was inside a gas station across the street being rung up when he and the cashier heard the commotion outside.
"He was very calm. He says, 'It's in my house,'" said gas station cashier Kerrie. "It was crazy and then all the other - about five different - fire engines showed up and police officers."
The crash left a gaping hole inside the home. Police said the house had significant damage.
Major Stockton thoroughfare West Lane was closed in both directions near Alpine Avenue for hours as police investigated. Officials did not say what factors led to the crash. They are asking for witnesses to call investigators.
During the road closing, police diverted hundreds of cars and trucks right onto residential streets.
"Everybody's coming right through our neighborhood, it's crazy," said David Krause who lives near the crash scene. "I got my road flares out in the road and just kind of directing traffic and keeping everybody slowed down."
Police are hoping people will slow down, not just near the scene but everywhere, to prevent more tragedies.
"It's so important to not drive distracted or anything like that and just be aware," said Scott. "Especially when you see other cars slowing down at an intersection, proceed with caution."
Watch more on ABC10 | Davis police investigating hate crimes after Israeli flag sliced with a knife