Man rams car into Burbank apartment building, prompting evacuation

An 80-year-old man drove his car into an apartment building Wednesday, puncturing gas and water lines, which prompted an evacuation of the building, police said.

At around 8:30 p.m., the motorist rammed into a first-floor apartment in the 400 block of East Tujunga Avenue after accidentally pressing the gas pedal of his 2003 Toyota Camry in the building’s parking structure, said Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

When police arrived, water was shooting out of damaged pipes, and there was a strong smell of natural gas through the area. Burbank fire officials subsequently shut down the water and gas lines, Ryburn said.

Shortly after, utility crews capped off the broken pipes and the residents were allowed back in the building.

A damage estimate was not immediately available, but Ryburn said the collision “pushed in the plaster wall and support near the storage room and first-floor apartment.”

No injuries were reported.

The collision marks the third such incident this month.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.