Out-of-control car crashes into fire station in Northeast Philadelphia

WISSINOMING (WPVI) -- A driver is recovering after crashing through the front of a fire station in Philadelphia's Wissinoming section and damaging a brand new ambulance.

It happened after 2:00 a.m. Friday on Van Kirk Street near Harbison Avenue.

"One fellow was just on the other side of that glass wall," Battalion Chief Charles Lepre told Action News. "He was alerted to the noise when a car coming up Harbison Avenue pulled right through and crashed through the doors and hit our medic unit."

Police say it appears the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

The impact pushed the brand new medic unit back 6-8 feet, Lepre said, and caused extensive front-end damage to the vehicle. It had to be towed from the scene.

The driver was taken to Aria Health/Frankford in stable condition to be treated for minor injuries, including facial cuts.

"He was fortunate and the firefighters were very fortunate," said Lepre. "Usually this is very busy station, and people pass by these doors regularly. Had they been passing by, someone would have been injured very critically."

No firefighters were hurt.

Firefighters were in the process of moving their equipment to another nearby firehouse because of extensive damage to the station's garage door.