Yesterday morning turned frightening for residents of a Palm River apartment complex when a pickup truck smashed into two separate units, sending two children to the hospital and forcing evacuations of nearby apartments. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews rushed in, searched the damaged units, pulled a dog to safety, and transported two pediatric patients to a local hospital in serious condition. The crash left clear structural damage and plenty of rattled neighbors as county inspectors were called to check how safe the buildings still are.
Emergency dispatchers started getting a flurry of 911 calls around 9:38 a.m. about a pickup that had hit an apartment building on Palm Bay Drive, according to the Tampa Free Press. When the first fire crews arrived, they found the truck had struck two different units. A preliminary look by fire officials indicated the driver first backed into one apartment, then pulled forward and hit a second, leaving both units with structural damage.
Response and injuries
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said firefighters cleared out both affected structures, swept the interiors to make sure no one was left inside, and took two children from one of the damaged units to a nearby hospital in serious condition, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Crews also managed to rescue a dog from one of the apartments without injury, and no first responders were hurt during the operation.
Investigation and next steps
Hillsborough County Code Enforcement officers were called out to evaluate the structural integrity of the buildings, and officials say the cause of the crash is still under investigation, per the Tampa Free Press. Investigators will sort out whether driver error, a mechanical problem or something else was to blame, and determine when or if the damaged units can be safely reoccupied once repairs are made.
