Tiller Crashes into CA Apartment Building

Feb. 26—An Oakland Fire Department ladder truck crashed into an apartment building near Lake Merritt in Oakland Saturday, tearing through the the ground floor entryway and injuring three firefighters.

The accident occurred at around 12:45 p.m. on the corner of Grand Avenue and Perkins Street after a ladder truck en-route to a structure fire veered to avoid colliding with another vehicle, according to Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt.

Three fire personnel suffered minor to moderate injuries and were transported to Highland Hospital, Hunt said. No pedestrians or residents in the damaged building were injured in the accident.

Law enforcement is looking for the other vehicle involved and is asking for witnesses to provide video evidence to help determine the cause of the crash, Hunt said.

The accident ruptured a water main, flooding the basement of the building, Hunt said, and it's possible that tenants will be temporarily displaced while inspectors ensure it is structurally sound.

Witnesses reported hearing the firetrucks' siren, then loud brakes and a crash.

"A bunch of good samaritans rushed to try and help," said Samuel Robinson, who saw the tail end of the accident. "It was kind of wild."

Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino

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