SOUTH LAKE TAHOE " A Crystal Dairy milk truck crashed into the Super 8 motel Tuesday morning in South Lake Tahoe, causing a major traffic tie-up along Highway 50 and structural damage to the building.
The driver was flown by helicopter to Renown Medical Center in Reno and was released from the hospital by midafternoon Tuesday, said Norm Findley, owner of Crystal Dairy Foods.
No other injuries were reported and no other vehicles were involved.
The accident happened at around 7 a.m. when the truck veered off the road at Herbert Avenue near the bus stop and collided with the motel.
"It looks like the center post stopped him," said Super 8 Motel owner Pradip Patel said.
A mixture of milk and gasoline poured from the heavily damaged vehicle; the gas leak was contained by 10 a.m., authorities said.
After the truck barged through the first two columns and hit the center post, it tipped over on its side, Patel said.
The front end of the truck was smashed, and the right side was ripped open.
Ric Martinez, South Lake Tahoe Police officer, said he took the accident report. He said the driver reported that someone cut him off, which forced him to leave the roadway.
The truck was raised upright around 9 a.m. to tow it away, Patel said.
Patel wasn't at the motel when the incident occurred, but his desk clerk called him right when it happened.
"She called and said: 'You gotta come down here right now,'" Patel said.