A parking lot vehicle collision caused a natural gas leak in the CVS shopping area this morning shortly before 10 a.m.. The vehicle rammed into the rear wall of Arizmendi Bakery causing the leak and leading to an evacuation and indefinite closure of the popular neighborhood bakery.
The vehicle was an older model Volvo reported to be driven by an older woman. It was not clear how the driver of the vehicle lost control or was able to get as much momentum as she did, but the force of the collision was substantial and jolted the building.
“We were in the office and it shook the entire building,” noted Arizmendi employee Aja Green. “We ran around back and saw the car in flames!”
Employees of Arizmendi leapt into action and quickly evacuated their customers. A driver of an armored vehicle who happened to be on the scene helped block the driveway to incoming cars and used his loud-speaker to instruct patrons to move to safety.
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The collision happened behind Arizmendi’s electrical closet where there’s also gas line which made containing the leak more challenging.
The fire and leak also activated the sprinklers in the facility causing significantly more damage. “There’s at least two inches of water covering the entire bakery. The fire department warned that the wall may collapse,” noted another employee of the bakery.
PG&E crews drilled into the asphalt of the parking lot to cap the gas leak while Alameda County Fire crews worked to contain the blaze.
Emergency crews noted that the driver of the vehicle sustained minor injury but they declined medical treatment. Adjacent vehicles to the collision also sustained damage.
Owners and employees of adjacent businesses including Los Cantaros, Grato Burger and IHOP also evacuated but were allowed back in to inspect their building for damages. They were all expected to reopen.
“This is our biggest time of the year,” noted an emotional Green. “The time when we all come together and make things happen for the holidays.”
Arizmendi will update their status through social media accounts including Twitter and Instagram. They are also discussing the possibility of a crowd-funding campaign to help financially support the worker-owned cooperative during the closure.
The Emeryville Police Department, who helped divert traffic during the incident, noted that the scene has been cleared and streets reopened as of about 1 p.m..
Since this is breaking news, we will update this story as additional information becomes available.
Maybe California needs to be a little more careful about who it grants drivers licenses to. Just a thought.
Sure. You tell the DMV exactly how to predict when someone — of any age — might have a seizure, stroke, heart attack or drug-induced psychotic episode behind the wheel at some time in the future, and I’m sure they’ll take that into account when granting drivers’ licenses.
Or they can pledge to take people where they need to go 24/7.
This is terrible. Wish i had known. No corn/cherry scones for me for awhile. Lakeshore is even further away from El Cerrito. I wish them well. They are a pleasure to do business with. Our older drivers (me included) need to focus more, or …
Cheese Board in Berkeley. There’s a reason why the other Arizmendi cooperatives call it “The mother ship”.
Well, I just found out about this today. It is January 6, and the store is still closed.
So sorry to hear this.
My gallbladder finally calmed down and I thought I’d treat myself to your fabulous pizza.
Here’s to your wonderful community,rest,heal and know you are missed.
Warmly,Peggy
I’m hoping they open by spring but wish I knew more.
[…] reopening date via Instagram. The popular neighborhood bakery has been closed for over a year after a vehicle collision with a gas line led to extensive fire and water intrusion damage. They initially targeted an ambitious spring 2019 […]
[…] been closed since December 11, 2018 when a vehicle struck a gas line in the lot behind their bakery causing a fire and water intrusion damage. They also encountered […]