Fire/Rescue News - CARS CRASH AND THEN ONE "DRIVES RIGHT IN" TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FIREHOUSE

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Leon Moreau, 78, of Somerville, Mass. The driver of the other car was identified as Frederick Pepe, 40, of Pelham.


Officials said both drivers were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Three firefighters were working on the other side of the garage doors when the car veered off the road and struck the building.
"They heard the screech of the tires and were able look and remove themselves from the area," Pelham Fire Chief Jim Midgley said.
Firefighters managed to get Moreau out of his car and off to the hospital, but his car sat under a pile of bricks for hours while firefighters and a construction crew tried to figure out how to keep the front of the building from falling apart.


Investigators said the intersection outside the fire station is one of the worst in the entire state. Construction is set to begin in 2011.


"It's also one of the areas that's due for reconstruction in the coming years to alleviate some of these problems," Midgley said.


A rigging company was called to build a temporary support system for the facade of the station in order to allow the removal of the vehicle. The building inspector was also called to the scene, and the building was considered structurally safe.


While the fire department can continue to store their trucks inside the fire station, the damage will make it more difficult for firefighters to get the trucks out quickly.


Police continued to investigate Sunday afternoon, but have said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor.
A soda machine bore the brunt of the force and provided a buffer between the car and building before the machine got knocked to the ground.