While maintenance was being performed on a City of Yakima Public Works Department vehicle at about 8:00 am today, a yet-to-be-determined mechanical failure occurred, which resulted in the vehicle’s transmission engaging.\u00a0 The vehicle, which is primarily used to haul refuse carts (garbage cans), went through two rollup doors of a maintenance building and eventually came to rest after running into an outbuilding.<\/p>\n
“We’re grateful that no one was injured and that the damage done is minimal,” said Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler.\u00a0 “An investigation is being conducted to figure out what caused the mechanical failure.”<\/p>\n
The vehicle’s engine was running while maintenance was being performed on it outside in a parking area east of the Public Works facility’s main maintenance building.\u00a0 After its transmission engaged, the vehicle, with no one inside it, moved forward, entered the main maintenance building through a closed rollup door, proceeded through the main maintenance building and out a partially-open rollup door on the west side of the building.<\/p>\n
The vehicle ultimately stopped when it ran into an outbuilding near the northwest edge of the Public Works property.<\/p>\n
An estimate of the cost of the damage that was done by the vehicle will be determined as soon as possible.<\/p>\n