AVON, Conn. -- The driver of a flat-bed tractor-trailer lost control and swerved to avoid oncoming traffic before crashing into a store at the base of Avon Mountain late Friday morning, Eyewitness News has learned.

The truck, traveling westbound on U.S. Route 44 at Route 10, crashed into the Nassau Furniture building at about 11 a.m., taking out a column that supports the roof of the building.

A employee at the store told Eyewitness News that the truck appeared to have lost control of its brakes while traveling down the mountain and ran into the store.

Witnesses at the scene told Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Eric Parker that the truck's driver, Robert Rauch, swerved his vehicle to avoid oncoming traffic. Rauch kept the truck to the extreme left of the roadway, ran over a grassy berm and crashed into the store.

"He had that truck under control to go around all the cars and he did not come close to us" at the side of the street, a witness said.

Another witness said, "He saved lives. He's a hero."

The light was red as Larry Boardman said he sat in his Mini Cooper and watched the tractor-trailer headed straight for him.

"All I could do is duck, dirt and dust went flying," Boardman said.

When the dust settled, Boardman said that the truck's driver had maneuvered around an obstacle course of cars and drivers that were stopped at the mountain's base.

"You just count your blessings," Boardman said. "I just want to shake his (Rauch's) hand. I hope he's all right."

Avon Fire Chief James Dipace said the truck had two fully loaded 100-gallon fuel tanks that ruptured inside the building. Dipace said everyone inside the store cleared out without incident.

"It was a difficult extrication (of Rauch)," Dipace said. "That gentleman must have done a heck of a job to miss all the cars. He made it through there without injuring anybody else."

Dipace said crews stabilized the building and Connecticut Light and Power crews disconnected the store's electricity by 12:25 p.m.

Firefighters extricated Rauch, and LIFE STAR helicopter transported him to Hartford Hospital shortly after 11 a.m. Rauch suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. One person who was inside the store was also transported for a respiratory problem.

Eyewitness News has learned that the owner of the truck is Apgar Brothers, of Somerset, N.J. When Eyewitness News asked a company representative for comment at noon, the representative said the company did not know about the crash until that notification and could not comment at the time. The company declined comment later in day but said that Rauch is a longtime employee of the compnay and called him a very fine driver.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Len Besthoff reported that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has given the trucking company a poor rating. (More)

David Goldberg, the owner of Nassau's Furniture, told Eyewitness News his employees were not hurt in the incident. Dipace said the store's employees were able to evacuate customers without incident.

Authorities closed Avon Mountain/U.S. Route 44 at Deercliff Road in Avon in addition to closing Route 10 from Old Farms Road to Route 44. The roadways were reopened around 4 p.m.

Avon police Lt. Robert Whitty said an Avon police officer was at the scene during the crash and witnessed the entire incident.

Crews removed the truck from the building shortly before 11 p.m.

Authorities Activate Emergency Plan

A state Department of Environmental Protection emergency team is responding to the scene with concerns of diesel fuel on the truck.

"That gentleman must have done a heck of a job to miss all the cars. He made it through there without injuring anybody else." - Avon Fire Chief James Dipace

Avon activated its red plan, a pre-arranged emergency response plan that involves first responders from metro Hartford to provide assistance, Eyewitness News has learned. Additionally, Simsbury is taking Avon's emergency calls during the incident, Eyewitness News has learned.

Crews from the state Departments of Environmental Protection and Motor Vehicles responded to the scene as part of the investigation. State police and Trooper 1 also responded to the scene, Parker said.

Police departments from metro Hartford have dispatched officers to Avon to assist in the emergency response, including police from West Hartford, Hartford, East Hartford, Simsbury, Newington and Manchester.

West Hartford police told Eyewitness News that officers shut down their side of the mountain at about 11:15 a.m.

Dangerous Spot Scene Of Crashes

The scene on Route 44 at Route 10 is the same area where a dump truck crashed into 18 cars and ignited into flames on July 19, 2005, killing four people and injuring 19 others (Eyewitness News Images).

Last July, the roadway was named among the state's most dangerous roads (Previous Story).

"I go that way every day ... and I have white knuckles up until that intersection," said Aaron Avenia, a victim who survived the 2005 crash. "I knew deep down that it was prob going to happen again and sure enough (it did)."

Since the 2005 crash, the town has erected signs on the mountain to warn drivers of the steep slope. Additionally, the town has installed new traffic lights and the police department increased patrols. The town has also considered installing an automated camera system to enforce the speed limit.

Governor Calls For More Truck Inspections

Following the crash, Gov. Jodi Rell called for an emergency meeting of the State Traffic Commission to declare a ban on through trucks on that section of Route 44.

Rell also called for DMV inspection teams to begin intensely inspecting truck traffic traveling on Route 44 over the mountain. The teams are expected to be deployed on Monday.

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