Truck crashes into Zanetti’s Service Center

GRAHAMSVILLE –– Around 8:30 p.m. on August 24, the Grahamsville Fire Department was toned out for a motor vehicle accident with entrapment and possible fire through Zanetti’s Service Center on State Route 55.

Grahamsville FD Assistant Chief Michael Kelly was one of the first people on scene.

“You could see the taillights from the truck, completely through the building,” said Kelly, “almost out the other side. You could see there were low hanging wires, wires throughout the building ripped off. I’ve used Zanetti’s before to get my truck inspected and it was kind of different seeing the office completely gone, part of the front entrance gone … We made sure the wires were dead around the truck.”

Grahamsville Fire Chief Ed McCarthy reported that the vehicle also went through the service center’s garage bay.

The Neversink Fire Department was on scene, as well, through mutual aid. Once firefighters made contact with the driver, Kelly requested the Monticello Fire Department Technical Rescue Team to the scene, which also brought in the Orange County and West Point Technical Rescue teams. ​​They assisted firefighters in stabilizing the scene as much debris/parts of the structure had fallen onto the cab of the truck. This meant heavy extrication would be needed to ensure the driver, who Grahamsville FD officials say was conscious and alert through the process, wasn’t harmed.

Once the driver was safely removed, Grahamsville FD officials say Mobilemedic EMS took him to the Neversink Firehouse, where the Loch Sheldrake FD set up the landing zone so he could be airlifted to Westchester Medical Center.

Also assisting at the scene was the Monticello Fire Department, Grahamsville First Aid Squad, Deputy Fire Coordinator - Battalion 3 Jack Halchak, NY State Troopers, NYC DEP Police & HazMat, Prestige Towing and the Department of Transportation. On standby were the Claryville FD at their firehouse, Woodbourne Fire Company #1 in Grahamsville, and Liberty Fire Department in Monticello.

Grahamsville FD officials told the Democrat that the New York State Police is currently investigating the cause of the accident. The Democrat reached out to the State Police for more information, but did not hear back by press time.

“We would like to thank everyone involved with our call last night,” said the Grahamsville FD in a message on their social media, “it was a great coordinated effort from so many different agencies.”