“We will rebuild:” Blackhawk BBQ food truck destroyed in accident
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - A local business owner is looking to rebuild after an accident on Interstate 15 totaled his food truck.
The popular Blackhawk BBQ Pit was traveling from Blackfoot to Chubbuck on Wednesday morning to serve lunch and dinner at the Soda Barn.
Idaho State Police reports Nicholas Transtrum, owner of Blackhawk BBQ, was in his 2000 Ford F250 pulling the food truck trailer when he left the right side of the roadway and struck the guard rail. The trailer flipped and caught fire, destroying the food truck and Transtrum's truck.
“I felt helpless watching this thing going up in flames yesterday. We slid off the road and there was really nothing we could do. The trailer started fishtailing and just pulled us off the road, went into a guard rail. Luckily the guardrail was there or who knows what could have happened, it certainly could have been worse," Transtrum said.
He's thankful for the first responders who helped him through the ordeal.
“You know, I have such an appreciation for all of our local heroes: the policemen, the firefighters, the EMTs,” Transtrum said in an interview with KIFI/KIDK in August.
His appreciation has grown even more since the accident.
“They really are heroes, local heroes,” Transtrum said.
Transtrum served in Iraq and is no stranger to difficult times.
“You know what, you take hits in life and this isn’t so bad. I’m just thankful nobody was seriously injured," he said. "When you think about it, it’s just a trailer and we can build a new trailer. And I get a new truck out of the deal, so I needed a new truck anyway."
The support from his customers has made it easier to look on the bright side.
“I am amazed, I am humbled, I am overwhelmed with the amount of people who have reached out from our community,” Transtrum said.
The Blackhawk BBQ Pit opened only five months ago, and quickly became one of the most popular food trucks in southeast Idaho.
He says he won't let this stop him. In fact, he's already started barbecuing in preparation for some weekend catering gigs.
“We will regroup, we will rebuild. This little hiccup won’t stop us,” Transtrum said.
He's on a mission that means more to him than just delicious food.
“BBQ is more than great food to us, BBQ is something that brings family and friends together and that’s where we enjoy the freedoms that we have,” Transtrum said.
