Following a day of heavy rain and strong winds, a tree outside the Campus Center Marketplace was uprooted, and crushed the front of the Poly Trolley on March 12. Police on the scene, who arrived at around 4:30 p.m., stated that there was one employee inside the truck; however, no one was hurt.
The campus’ well-known food truck was parked in its reserved parking spot behind the Marketplace along with Round Table Pizza’s delivery cart when the incident occurred, leaving both vehicles damaged.
Joshua Ogaard, supervisor of the Poly Trolley, said that most importantly he was glad that nobody was hurt, stating that ultimately it was “just equipment” which was damaged.
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Dining Services Director Aaron Neilsen said there are plans for the food truck to return, but it has not been determined whether the Poly Trolley will be repaired or replaced and when either will take place.
Neilsen said the staff currently employed by the Poly Trolley will “likely be transferred to another dining location during the interim.”
The food truck was first introduced more than 30 years ago in 1986, but was relaunched in 2013 and has remained in operation ever since.
Following its relaunch, the food truck has been a mainstay of campus dining and is usually stationed near the library to feed hungry students.
The Poly Trolley has also received national recognition, including being the first-ever mobile Starbucks-offering operation in the country. In 2014, it received first place in the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards from the National Association of College and University Food Services.