May 11
...serving up your daily dish.
A tipster calls in to alert us that downtown Montclair, from Church Street and Bloomfield Ave and going east a couple blocks is currently closed off with a ton of police presence. We'll update as soon as we know more...
Update: 9:47 a.m.
Deputy Chief Perry Mayers tells us that a moving van, just packed up with a Wayside St. resident's personal belongings, caught fire . The tractor trailor and it entire contents were destroyed. The van driver stopped after motorists started honking and pointing to the top of the van which was ablaze. The driver disconnected the trailor from the cab at Bloomfield and Gates. The fire department appearedon the scene to extinguish the fire, blocking all lanes of Bloomfield Ave. After 20 minutes, westbound lanes were cleared and now one eastbound lane is open. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
I heard a rumor the car was becoming threatening so they had to shoot it.
Posted by: crank | May 11, 2006 9:24:31 AM
yeah, i heard the car was staring someone down. what choice did the police have but to destroy it?
Posted by: tattler | May 11, 2006 9:25:39 AM
I think the car was lost and confused. It was clearly not a car from around here and it had entered a 'random car no tolerance zone'.
Posted by: D | May 11, 2006 9:40:23 AM
we have destroyed the car's natural habitat and it had no where to go.
Posted by: cheeze | May 11, 2006 9:41:49 AM
What an awful story. I can't imagine how that could have happened. And how long does a truck have to be burning to burn through the roof?
Posted by: hrhppg | May 11, 2006 11:07:29 AM
does anyone know the owners of the contents? could we band together to help with clothes, household items or at the very monetary donations/gift cards to target?
what a horrible experience for them!
jess
Posted by: jess | May 11, 2006 11:32:43 AM
Would renter's insurance (or property insurance) cover this? Or the mover's insurance?
Any insurance agents out there?
Posted by: Right of Center™ | May 11, 2006 12:08:50 PM
