Dump truck crashes into Logan hotel after losing brakes

By Emilie H. Wheeler and Amy Macavinta | Posted: Saturday, November 12, 2011 1:45 am
Witnesses watched in shock as a dump truck came hurtling down 400 North, swerving through the Phillips 66 parking lot before crossing Main Street, heading through the 7-Eleven parking lot and crashing into the Quality Inn just after 2 p.m. Friday.
The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old Marcie L. Pentz of Morgan, had apparently lost control of the vehicle's brakes sometime while driving west on U.S. Highway 89 after leaving a work site up Logan Canyon. She managed to avoid hitting any vehicles on her way down the hill, something those who saw the incident called "unbelievable."
Todd Olson of North Logan was running errands and had stopped at the 400 North/Main Street intersection when the truck - horn blasting - came through.
"I saw her bouncing through Mooch's (now known as Nyla's), on the south side ... she missed the pumps, the tree, the other pumps (at 7-Eleven)," he said. "She did a fantastic job at mitigating any damage. As bad as it was, I am sure it could have been a lot worse."
After missing the pumps and actual 7-Eleven building, the dump truck hit the back side of the Quality Inn head-on.
Jason Kendall, an off-duty Logan police officer, was at 7-Eleven getting a drink when the truck hit the hotel.
"She was doing everything she could to avoid a collision, and she missed everyone," he said.
Officers who arrived first on the scene said Pentz was alert and conscious but complaining of chest pain. She was extricated from the cab and taken by ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital. On Friday night, a spokeswoman from the hospital said Pentz was in good condition and expected to be released that night.
The owner of the truck, which is a Wardell Brothers Construction vehicle out of Morgan, was traveling behind Pentz down the highway. At the scene of the crash, he was distraught and didn't provide his name, but did tell those around he realized there was a problem sometime before the crash.
"I guess she got her brakes hot," he said. Pointing east, he added, "She started clear up there in trouble."
The man said the two had been working on a job near the road to Beaver Mountain.
Logan Assistant Police Chief Jeff Curtis said it was incredibly lucky nothing else went wrong.
"It's a small miracle that on a Friday afternoon with some of our heaviest traffic she was able to get all the way across Main Street avoiding any collision with any vehicles," he said.
Police aren't sure exactly what happened, but say those at the scene said they could smell burning brakes. Logan officers have contacted the Utah Highway Patrol truck inspection trooper, who will evaluate the truck and circumstances. Curtis said results from that investigation will be available next week.
It's also unclear exactly when Pentz became aware of a problem.
"As she was approaching Main Street, she knew that she was in trouble and started to blast her horn in an effort to clear traffic," Curtis said. "We don't know exactly what color the light was, but it appears it could have been red for the east/west traffic. She knew she wasn't going to get the traffic cleared in front of her, so she swerved in front of Phillips 66 (Nyla's) and was able to go between one of the trees and the fire hydrant without hitting anything."
After crossing Main successfully, the truck entered the 7-Eleven lot. Curtis said a small Volkswagon was pulling out of a parking spot, but its driver saw her coming and kept driving in reverse to avoid the oncoming truck. After missing that car and the gas pumps, the dump truck hit the hotel.
Curtis said the dump truck did not actually penetrate any hotel rooms. There's some damage to the building, where the truck hit in the main part of the stairwell entrance that went into the structure's basement. Exterior bricks also sustained damage, he said.
Another witness, Robert Horning of Logan, was on the east side of the intersection waiting behind four or five cars. He said the Pentz's actions to veer off the road saved his and his two daughters' lives.
"I saw the truck literally in my rearview mirror ... coming like a bat out of hell," he said. "The truck swerved off the right, bounced over the curb ... I feel like she saved my life."
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ewheeler@hjnews.com and amacavinta@hjnews.com

Congratulation's to the Elden Dattage Towing and Autobody Softball Team.  They clinched the championship last night with a spectacular comeback from a 22 run deficit in the first inning.

The tow boy's quickly exited their homes just after midnight on another ROLLOVER.  And...they actually sent me some pic's so I've updated the blog.  Looks like they had a HOT night!

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