Tractor-trailer rig slams into Giant Eagle in New Kensington

New Kensington Police are trying to find out what caused the detached rig of a tractor-trailer to slam into the beer and wine section of the New Kensington Giant Eagle on Wednesday evening.

No injuries were reported.

Police were dispatched to the Giant Eagle plaza off Tarentum Bridge Road around 6:45 p.m.

Police at the scene said the truck driver was getting food at the nearby Asian Kitchen restaurant, which is located in a small strip shopping center at the top of the parking lot, when his unoccupied truck drifted backward the depth of the parking lot.

It struck one vehicle before slamming into the store backward.

Only the rear portion of the rig, the double set of wheels behind the cab, smashed through the storefront. The cab remained on the porch outside the building.

A large beer cooler inside the store was pushed out of position.

Police said no injuries were reported. Store employees also said no one was hit inside the building; they referred further questions to corporate communications.

Giant Eagle spokesman Dick Roberts confirmed that no one was hurt. He said the store would remain open for normal business hours.

New Kensington police Det. Sgt. Paul Manke Jr. said the case was under investigation pending an inspection of the truck.

Joseph Walker, 27, of Tarentum was in the plaza when he heard a crash and began filming the incident.

“I came out of getting my hair cut at Fantastic Sam’s there,” Walker said. “I drove past that part of the parking lot used for buses. He was parked sideways in between four spots facing uphill. I parked my car at Giant Eagle. I heard a crash and picked my phone up and started filming.”

Manke said the truck drifted across the parking lot, hit a parked car, and then went across the parking lot and into the building.

Walker said he did not see a car get hit, but there was evidence of a crash in the lot.

“There was glass on the ground near the top of the hill on the upper end of the parking lot,” Walker said. “I didn’t see (a driver) in the truck, but when I drove past, he had his TVs on in the truck.”

Carrie Ray Banks of Lower Burrell took a photo of the truck as it sat nearly halfway inside the store.

The truck was towed away while she was shopping at Giant Eagle. She said she was happy no one was hurt.

The truck was hauled away by Clyde’s Towing.

Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration assisted with immediate building repairs.

The store was open for business Thursday.

Staff writer Brian C. Rittmeyer contributed to this report.