Driver of stolen car suffers burns, major injuries after fiery wreck destroys Anderson business
ANDERSON, Calif., — Fire officials say a commercial structure in an unincorporated part of Anderson was destroyed by a blaze that erupted after a stolen vehicle plowed into the closed business early this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 15.
The wreck, which sent the driver to the hospital with major burn and other crash-related injuries and destroyed a total of seven vehicles, happened at one of the structures near Weaver Commercial & Storage and Miranda’s Custom Cabinets in the 6900 block of Eastside Road, between River Ranch and Latona roads.
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Firefighters from six engine companies, two water tenders and a Breathing Support Unit from Cal Fire-Shasta Trinity Unit, along with the Redding and Anderson fire departments, were dispatched to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. after receiving reports of a solo-vehicle crash that involved a car that had smashed into a commercial structure.
Callers reported that the building had caught fire and that the vehicle that hit the structure was also ablaze. It was not immediately known if the seriously injured driver was able to exit the wrecked and burning stolen vehicle on his own or if he was pulled from the vehicle by responding officials or others following the accident.
In the first photo, a burned and destroyed car can be seen under the ruble of a business that was destroyed in this morning’s crash. Six other cars were destroyed in the blaze. In the second image a fire official is seen surveying the property destroyed by the fire. Cal Fire-Shasta Trinity Unit photos
California Highway Patrol and Shasta County Sheriff’s Office officials were also dispatched to the scene, with updates soon coming in that the vehicle involved in the crash had been reported stolen from the Redding area.
Responding firefighters and other officials found a fully-involved commercial structure fire caused by the vehicle collision and spent the next five hours at the scene, first knocking down the blaze, followed by extensive overhaul and mop up operations. Several nearby trees and portions of area foliage were damaged by the fire, but firefighter’s efforts stopped the blaze from spreading beyond the immediate tree line.
Initial reports that a loaded 9 mm handgun with extra ammunition were inside the car’s glove box when it was stolen caused some initial concern for responding officials, who later reported that the handgun was recovered from inside the wrecked car. The registered and legally owned weapon was later booked into Redding PD for safe keeping until it could be returned to the owner of the car that was stolen.
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CHP and SCSO are investigating the vehicle collision and prior vehicle theft and neither agency has released any information about either incident or investigation.
Area resident Alexandra Wright, whose father’s car was the stolen vehicle involved in the overnight collision has since said, “Long story short, the car was stolen and the major injury is the thief due to the crash from what I understand.”
“My dad’s ok thank God,” she added.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.
Is there any new updates on this story?
Nothing I have seen, Lisa.
-TM