Most car accidents involve only other vehicles. Occasionally, however, vehicles leave the roadway and strike objects or buildings that are near the right of way. A car accident involving an apartment building fire occurred recently in Fall River, when a vehicle hit the side of a three story apartment building.
The accident happened at about 9:30 a.m. A car traveling at a high speed left the street and crashed into the apartment building. The vehicle traveled about 15 feet into the interior of the building. The car apparently struck one or more natural lines that served the apartment building and ignited a fire. The 72-year-old woman who was driving the car was killed in the collision, and her passenger was taken to a nearby hospital. The woman died at about noon on the day after she was hospitalized. The cause of the accident is being investigated.
No one living in the apartment building was injured or killed. The fire was brought under control in about two hours, but shortly after noon, the fire rekindled and burst through the roof. The blaze rekindled a second time at about 9:00 p.m. and then again during the night. About 100 firefighters were ultimately required to control the blaze. Seven firefighters were hospitalized for treatment of injuries received while they were battling the fire. Police were unable to say what caused the initial collision, but they have ruled out foul play. After fire rekindled during the evening, police said that the entire building must be razed.
While no one living in the building suffered a serious injury, many lost virtually all of their possessions. One couple who lived in the building was planning on getting married this summer in Ireland, but the fire destroyed the bride’s wedding dress and most of the couple’s other possessions. The losses will force them to do “something low key” in Minnesota.
Car accidents and fires can have many unexpected consequences. But for a few feet difference in the path of the car, this accident may have caused little or no damage or, possibly, a great deal more damage and personal injury.
