Truck Dangles from Third Floor of Garage in Queens

A garbage truck crashed through the wall of a garage in Queens and dangled from an upper floor on Wednesday for several hours in a scene that onlookers said looked like a Hollywood stunt.

Firefighters rescued mechanic Robert Legall, 56, from the cab of the truck as it was suspended 30 feet high; he was treated at Elmhurst Hospital for minor neck and back injuries and later released.

Witness Eddie Moore was there was the truck burst through the wall at about 10 a.m.

"Just heard a big crash explosion, then all of a sudden the truck came out," he said. "It was unbelievable, unreal."

Two cranes were brought in to stabilize the vehicle on the outside of the building, while it was chained to two tow trucks on the inside, officials said.

Those trucks were then used to pull it back inside at about 3:30 p.m.

The city said the runaway truck is typically used to salt roads and was at the Elmhurst garage for routine maintenance.

It is not clear what caused it to bust through the wall of the garage.

Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty said officials will be examining the truck to find out whether it had faulty brakes or some other problem.

The Sanitation Department said Legall is a 10-year veteran with an unblemished record.

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