Big rig smashes into Pittsburg building

A truck driver died after crashing into two vehicles and then a building in Pittsburg this morning, a police captain said.

Officers responded shortly after 8:20 a.m. to the 3800 block of Railroad Avenue on reports of what witnesses described as an explosion at a building after a big-rig crashed into it, Pittsburg police Capt. Ron Raman said.

Firefighters also responded and extinguished the fire and the big-rig driver was found dead, Raman said. A preliminary investigation has found that the big-rig was traveling north on Railroad Avenue when it struck two vehicles and then the building, which became engulfed in flames, according to Raman.

Police are looking into the possibility that a mechanical failure in the truck caused the crash, Raman said. The building that the big-rig struck was unoccupied at the time, he said.

Railroad Avenue near Linscheid Drive is expected to remain closed for an extended period of time today while police investigate the crash, Raman said.