Accident Sends Car Flying Into Chinatown Store Front; 3 Taken To Hospital
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Several people were injured Tuesday afternoon after a car crashed into a store front in Chinatown.
The accident started when the front end of a green Subaru hit the back of a black Mercedes, police told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria.
It happened during the peak of the afternoon rush, around 5:30 p.m., WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
WCBS 880's Peter Haskell Reports
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The Subaru then jumped the curb and crashed into a glass display case at a store at314 Canal St., that sells trinkets, handbags and perfumes, D'Auria reported.
Chong Lama, who owns the store, told WCBS 880's Haskell "Two times I heard 'boom.'"
"The glass was broken. The broke glass went through to my wife. Now she going to the hospital. I hope she's OK," Lama said.
Lama's wife and another worker were hurt inside the store. EMS said the driver of the Subaru, who was also taken to the hospital, sustained head trauma.
Meanwhile, authorities said the driver of the Mercedes returned to the scene and told police she was behind the wheel, had panicked and fled the scene. Police said they arrested the woman for leaving the scene of an accident.
"I was a little surprised when I saw the car was inside the store. I think [the driver] tried to avoid hitting the car in front...she kind of swerved into it," one witness who works across the street said.
The Buildings Department was also at the scene to evaluate structural damage to the commercial property.
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