Earthquake Story

Who: People residing in McHenry's Auto Supply
What:Earthquake/ Auto shop collapse
When: 8:12 am
Where: McHenry's Auto Supply
Why: Earthquake
How: Earthquake caused building collapse

At 8:12 am yesterday, an earthquake rumbled through San Fransisco, causing a collapse of McHenry's Auto Supply at 2324 Plum St..

The earthquake caused the shop to partially collapse, killing two people as well as injuring 6 others.

Of the 6 others who were injured, only 6 were critically injured and required hospitalization, and they were transported to Hayward General Hospital.

"2 people were killed in yesterday's collapse of McHenry's Auto Shop, and we will be withholding those names until their families have been notified," public information officer of the Hayward Fire Department said.

Buildings in the area suffered structural damage due to the earthquake as well as from the collapse of the McHenry's auto shop.

"I was eating my breakfast when the room started rolling. I dove under the table just as I heard an explosion outside and chunk of cement flew through my kitchen window. That's when the screaming started across the street," Hayward resident Mike Beamer said.

The earthquake while large on the Richter scale, was described by some as a singular rolling motion, with a large jolt in the middle. They said this lasted around 30 seconds.

"This quake was a "strong one"," USGA scientist Penny Gertz said. " This one was around a 6.4 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of this quake resided under Hayward hills, along the Hayward Fault, which runs under the hills."

McHenry's auto shop, deemed structurally unstable after the earthquake, was stabled using ropes by the Hayward firefighters. A searched was conducted as well, and a gas leak was found and capped as well by the firefighters. This leak was caused by the earthquake.

"Three of the six people injured were hurt seriously enough to require hospitalization and were transported to Hayward General Hospital," Vu said. "their were no other serious injuries that have been reported in Hayward.

"People as far south as LosAngeles and as far north as Redding felt the quake," Gertz said.

"Twenty one fire personnel, 12 police and five American Red Cross workers responded to the building collapse, with some arriving within four minutes of the quake," Vu said.