Suspected drunk driver crashes into fire station

RIALTO

Significant damage was done to building Saturday, according to police; no injuries reported

A pedestrian walks south on Willow Avenue past the Rialto fire station on Monday, two days after a suspected DUI driver crashed his car into the metal poles in front of the building, launching his vehicle up and through a large window. ERIC VILCHIS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A vehicle collided into a Rialto Fire Department station, causing significant damage to the building. The driver was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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By Mona Darwish

mdarwish@scng.com

A car driver crashed into a Rialto Fire Department station on Willow Avenue over the weekend, causing significant damage to the building, police said.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday, the car collided into the station at 131 S. Willow Ave; no firefighter was injured.

The building was red-tagged, indicating that at least part of it is unsafe to occupy. Fire personnel assigned at that station were to be sent to the other locations, Rialto police Sgt. Richard Royce said.

The car perhaps went over a curb and knocked down a metal pole meant as a barrier, over a lawn and up an embankment made of concrete and rocks and into the station.

The driver was hospitalized, video news outlet OnScene.TV reported. He was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Royce said.

Rialto Fire Department officials did not return messages by deadline.