A specialized underwater search-and-rescue truck tore into a West Haverstraw apartment building shortly after midnight on Thursday, slamming through the first floor and leaving behind a nasty chunk of structural damage, according to officials.
The heavy apparatus punched through the building's ground level, then had to be towed away while crews worked to secure the area and stabilize what was left of the damaged section.
ABC7 New York reported that the truck struck the building just after midnight, causing significant damage to the first floor. The outlet noted that it was not immediately clear whether anyone had been hurt and that the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Local emergency context
West Haverstraw has already had more than its share of sirens this year. In May, a major blaze ripped through the former Temco Uniforms factory, reducing the site to rubble and setting off a long cleanup and monitoring process. That earlier incident, covered by factory reduced to rubble, drew dozens of mutual-aid companies and pushed officials to zero in on building safety across the village.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not yet explained how the rescue vehicle wound up crashing into the apartment building. According to ABC7 New York, investigators are still sorting through what happened and have not confirmed whether there were any injuries.
Village and county agencies are expected to release more information once structural inspectors and public works crews finish assessing the damage and any lingering hazards at the scene. This story will be updated as officials provide additional details.
