Driver killed in N. Lake Tahoe big rig crash

Page Last Updated: Friday June 18, 2010 9:01pm PDT

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Authorities say a truck hauling lumber careened through a runaway truck ramp, flew into the air and crashed into a house in an upscale Lake Tahoe neighborhood killing the driver.

Fire officials say the home and truck burst into flames, but a 19-year-old woman inside the living room at the time escaped unharmed.

The big rig slammed into the first story of the house and emergency crews removed debris for approximately 9 hours to reach the driver. North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Mike Brown said the home needed to be shored up before they could reach him. The occupant's name will not be released until the next of kin is notified, officials said.
Witnesses told officials that the vehicle was traveling fast and appeared to have no brakes.

The driver was headed westbound-down- the Mount Rose Highway when the accident happened Friday morning.

Homeowner Damon Ewasko says a similar accident involving a gravel truck occurred in the late 1990s before he bought the Woodridge Circle house but did not cause as much damage.
The accident closed the highway also known as State Round 431 for approximately 2 and half hours causing traffic to be diverted onto the county roads.

-MyNews4.com and The Associated Press provided this report.

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