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The Sacramento explosion

`a thousand pounds

of dynamite' --

is being investigated

as a criminal act.

BY DION NISSENBAUM
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- A big rig slammed into the state Capitol late Tuesday night, killing the driver and triggering an explosion and fire that forced the frantic evacuation of lawmakers who had just voted on a bill to help solve the electricity crisis.

California Highway Patrol Officer David Brunelle said the crash just before 9:30 p.m. is being investigated as a criminal act. Investigators found no bomb on board and determined explosions were caused by diesel tanks and the truck's cargo -- canned evaporated milk -- bursting into flame, fire Capt. Don Braziel said.

Witnesses said they heard the truck's horn blasting and saw the truck circling the block around the Capitol several times before it barreled at 70 mph across a wide lawn, up the steps and into the Senate chamber.

``The whole thing blew up like it had a thousand pounds of dynamite,'' said Matt Z'berg, a legislative aide who was among scores of people evacuated from the building. Thick black smoke obscured the views of the Capitol rotunda, and white columns outside were blackened.

Brunelle confirmed one fatality, the driver, whose name was not immediately disclosed.

The tractor-trailer truck belonged to Dick Simon Trucking Inc., which is based in West Valley City, Utah, said Mike Houskeeper, a claims examiner with the company.

Houskeeper declined to release the identity of the driver but said he had picked up the load of evaporated milk Tuesday from a company outside of California. The driver wasn't scheduled to make any deliveries in Sacramento on Tuesday.

``This is a shock to us as you can imagine as well,'' Houskeeper said. ``It's a devastating night. It's the people's house. It hurts,'' said Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, D-Los Angeles, after the incident on the south side of the Capitol.

Minutes earlier, the Assembly had concluded an emergency session on the statewide electricity crunch when CHP officers shouted that everyone had to evacuate the building.

Dozens of lawmakers later huddled on the sidewalk, watching the flames lick the outside of the Capitol. Gov. Gray Davis was not in the building during the crash, spokesman Steve Maviglio said, adding that the governor was being briefed by investigators and had no immediate comment.

One eyewitness, Catherine Almy of Sacramento, said the driver ``went around the block twice. I saw him honk his horn. He came around the block and crashed into the building. I didn't see any brake lights go on.''

State Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina Del Rey, was in her office overlooking the crash site when the truck hit the building.

Bowen said her office windows rattled and the lights turned off as she heard popping sounds she thought might be gunfire.

``I could see flames shooting up to the fourth floor,'' Bowen said. ``It's actually the first time in the eight years I've been in the building that I was afraid.''

Despite being shaken, Bowen said she has mixed emotions about beefing up security around the building.

``We've always prided ourselves on being the people's house and being open,'' Bowen said.

Braziel, the fire captain, said it took 20 minutes to extinguish the burning truck. There were 10 engines and seven trucks on the scene.

Braziel reported only minimal smoke damage. Capt. Dennis Williams of the CHP said there didn't appear to be any fire damage inside the building, but there was extensive smoke and water damage.

The building was closed, and a structural engineer is being brought in to examine the structure, though most damage appears to be cosmetic.

The four-alarm blaze is certain to renew questions about the security in the Capitol, which is not surrounded by a fence.

In 1998, the Legislature decided not to put a security fence around the Capitol. The idea was brought up after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and was given fresh impetus by the bombings of American embassies in Africa.

Both concrete bunkers doubling as planters and a security fence were considered but ultimately rejected. They were regarded as architecturally inappropriate. Lawmakers also felt that a fence would send a message that the Capitol -- a popular tourist attraction -- was closing itself off from the people.

``We like to keep it open,'' said Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, after being evacuated from the Capitol.

``It's our heritage to have open government. But when something like this happens, it shakes the core of our foundation and we have to stand together.''