Residents of this multi-family home located at 5 South Longyard Road in Southwick were awakened Saturday morning after the driver of a pickup truck plowed into the side of the structure. The accident was reported around 1:40 am. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – A truck struck an apartment building early Saturday morning, sending a driver and passenger to Noble Hospital.
Both were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.
Timothy Mannion, 30, of Southwick, who serves the town as a firefighter, was traveling east on South Longyard Road at 1:41 a.m. when he lost control of the pickup truck, crossed the double yellow line, and continued west.
“He entered the westbound lane and continued on into the structure at 5 South Longyard,” said Southwick Police Lt. David Ricardi.
Ricardi said the apartment building was temporarilty evacuated while Building Inspector Denis Gaido, Electrical Inspector Les Smith and Western Massachusetts Electric Company ensured the structure was safe.
“They were all allowed back in the building,” said Ricardi.
Southwick Fire Department was also on the scene.
Fire Chief Richard Anderson said seven firefighters responded with an engine and ambulance.
“Our role was really to be on standby while they got the truck out,” Anderson said.
Mannion was not cited. Ricardi said it appears a slick road surface and speed were likely factors in the crash.
“We’re still looking into that,” he said.
