Blown Tire Explodes Dream of Owning a Food Truck
Community rallies to help get Ita’s Puerto Rican Food back on the road
Kristina Melendez-Thompson hung upside down by one ankle against the side of her food truck. She vaulted through the window to escape her crumpled vehicle because she couldn’t budge the door. There were freshly filled propane tanks on board and she knew they could burst into flame at any moment.
But she’s a fierce woman. In a GI Jane-style maneuver, she hauled herself up on the oversized truck mirrors, freed the foot caught in her seatbelt, and dropped to the ground. Then she ran.
Crumpled dreams
On August 9, Kristina was heading down the 64 west to the 288 in Richmond when the rear tire on her shiny new food truck blew. She was en route to an event, her kitchen fully loaded. But she never arrived.
The tire caused her truck to sway dangerously from side to side. She hit the brakes and instantly realized her mistake as she fought to keep her vehicle upright. Kristina headed for the next exit and drove up a grassy embankment. But the vehicle was going so fast it caught air, landed, and rolled twice down the embankment. The crash caused a total loss.
