2 transported after dump truck crashes into SW Miami-Dade business

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Rescue crews took two people to the hospital after a multi-vehicle crash in Southwest Miami-Dade caused a dump truck to slam into an insurance agency.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene along Bird Road, near Southwest 60th Avenue, just before 9 a.m., Friday.

7SkyForce HD flew over the scene where a dump truck could be seen crashed into the side of the State Farm building. A white SUV could also be seen with heavy front-end damage, stopped on the side of the dump truck.

On the other side of the median, a gray sedan could also be seen with heavy damage.

“Friday morning, really not looking forward to this,” said Carlos Luis, the owner of the insurance company.

Officials said the truck was traveling eastbound when the multi-vehicle collision caused the driver to swerve left, cut across all westbound lanes and collide into the building.

Employee Rosie Avellaneda said she was sitting in her car outside of the business when the crash occurred.

“I heard the crash,” said Avellaneda. “I got out of my car thinking that was like an accident [where] one car hit another car.”

FHP officials said a total of eight vehicles were involved.

Out of the six victims injured in the crash, two were transported to local hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. The driver of the dump truck was able to walk away unharmed.

Avellaneda said five extra minutes of applying makeup saved her life. She said she was about to go inside the building when the truck crashed into her desk.

“My friend came out and she said, ‘Rosie you’re safe because the truck is in your office.’ I said ‘What?’ I went in and I saw the truck, so thank God. If I would have been there, I would have been dead.”

Crews worked to secure the building to make sure it would not collapse when removing the truck.

“Anytime we have something like this, with this much damage to the building, the most important thing is not to have a complete structural collapse,” said MDFR Lt. Kirsten Miller.

Fortunately, the truck was safely towed away from the scene. Friday afternoon, 7News cameras captured the side of the building covered with plywood sheets.

As for Avellaneda, she is feeling grateful she was not inside the building, since her office is located against the wall that the truck hit.

“Very lucky. Today, I was born again,” she said.

Luis said he is thankful he and his employees are OK.

“Nobody was seriously injured, there were no fatalities, given the gravity of this accident, so we’re thankful to God,” he said.

Westbound lanes on Bird Road were shut down at Southwest 59th Avenue for hours while authorities investigated. They have since reopened to traffic.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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