LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) — A parking garage in downtown Lynchburg partially collapsed late Wednesday night after a tractor-trailer drove across it.
The incident happened just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, with pictures showing the tires of the tractor-trailer falling through the roof of the deck.
Firefighters say the tractor-trailer was delivering a 78,000 pound shipment to Three Roads Brewery and the driver did not realize it was a parking deck. When he drove on the deck, though, it started to collapse.
This incident sparked a big response from the Lynchburg Fire Department, with the original call saying it was a full deck collapse and that there were some vehicles underneath. However, it ended up being a partial collapse and the owners of the other vehicles were able to drive out on their own.
The department tells WFXR News that only one car on the bottom layer of the parking deck was damaged, but it was able to be moved. As for the tractor-trailer, while it did sustain some damage, it was not leaking any fuel or cargo.
In addition, there are no reports of injuries resulting from this incident.
“This one is not too bad. There’s no full collapse, no threat of anyone being trapped in the debris below,” a member of the fire department said to WFXR News. “That is the biggest concern when something like this happens — a deck collapse with occupants and cars underneath that you would need some search and rescue. This is fortunately not the case.”
Fire officials say they will hand the parking deck — which is closed until further notice and will need extensive repairs — over to the City of Lynchburg for inspections.
