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71-year-old man severely injured by 'runaway' dump truck trailer in Capitol Hill

Seattle firefighters rescued a 71-year-old man who was pinned under a construction trailer which rolled backwards over a Capitol Hill sidewalk and crashed into a building Tuesday.

Witnesses along the 1200 block of E. Pine Street told KIRO-7 the dump truck hauling the flatbed trailer and a 27,000 lb. track hoe excavator on top of it rolled backwards down the hill after it had been parked.

Seattle fire spokesperson Kristen Tinsley said the man suffered serious injuries when he was hit by the trailer while he was walking on the sidewalk.

PHOTOS: Trailer hits pedestrian, building in Capitol Hill

The corner of the trailer crashed through the window of a dental office on East Pine Street. No injuries were reported inside the building, but workers at “Bang” Salon next-door said the impact was so violent workers feared the building would collapse.

Calls to the company which owns the dump truck we’re not returned. Witnesses told KIRO-7 they saw no driver behind the wheel as the truck rolled backwards, then jackknifed, and careened into the building.

Seattle police say the investigation is ongoing.

More news from KIRO 7

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