A motor vehicle accident involving a single-car striking a building at The Royce of Trumbull, on Avalon Gates Road, resulted in fire damage to several apartments early Sunday morning, March 26. The vehicle, operated by a 31-year-old New Britain woman, struck the gas lines of the building causing the fire to ignite and burn a section of the building.
At around 8:30 A.M., Trumbull Police received a report of a structure fire at building nine (9) of Avalon Gates. Arriving officers found a portion of the building engulfed in flames. Officers were able to evacuate the residents from the first and second floors, but when they advanced to the upper levels there was too much smoke for them to continue.
The Trumbull Center Fire Department arrived on scene, determined that there were no occupants in any involved apartments, and they extinguished the fire.
Witnesses reported that they heard a crash and went outside to see what was hit when they smelled gas, then ran back inside to call the police when they heard a small explosion. Officers learned that a silver vehicle had struck the building but had left the area with damage to its front bumper. A short time later, the striking vehicle returned to the scene and the operator explained that she had mistaken the accelerator for the brake pedal, causing her vehicle to drive forward into the building.
Investigation revealed that the fire affected four (4) apartments, but two of them were vacant. The other two (2) apartments suffered damage causing the occupants to be displaced from their home. The apartment building sustained significant damage, however, no injuries were reported.
The operator, and her passenger, provided full cooperation with police. Based on information obtained and the conditions surrounding the accident during the preliminary investigation, no charges have been filed.