A driver from Long Island lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a Chinese restaurant in a fiery accident on Monday night – marking the second time within about a year that a motorist has collided with the establishment, according to authorities.
The incident unfolded when a 57-year-old woman was behind the wheel of a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV traveling north on Broadway in Farmingdale around 11:20 p.m. The driver veered off the road and first struck a parked 2017 Ford Mustang and a 2022 Volkswagen Jetta before crashing into the Great Wall Chinese restaurant. The eatery is situated within a strip mall at the intersection of Broadway and Boundary Avenue, police reported.
The chaotic crash culminated with the Hyundai SUV bursting into flames upon impact with the restaurant. Prompt action from the Bethpage Fire Department managed to swiftly douse the flames, preventing further damage, as per the police report.
Photos and a video shared on the fire department’s social media page depict the aftermath of the crash – the Hyundai SUV precariously leaning against the restaurant, engulfed in flames that towered above the single-story building. The front portion of the vehicle was visibly mangled and charred, with firefighters on the scene attending to the situation.
Both the Hyundai driver and a 30-year-old man who was inside the Mustang at the time of the incident were transported to local hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment, confirmed law enforcement officials. Fortunately, no one was present inside the Volkswagen during the crash, and there were no additional reported injuries.
In a separate incident approximately a year earlier, a Mercedes driver, allegedly under the influence, careened off North Broadway and collided with a parked Toyota, as recounted by police records. The response from the Bethpage Fire Department was also required during that prior incident at the Great Wall restaurant.
During the crash on January 26, 2024, the unoccupied Toyota was propelled through the eatery’s storefront due to the impact, with the Mercedes closely following. The driver of the Mercedes, identified as 39-year-old Lauren Potter, was subsequently arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and third-degree assault, as reported by law enforcement.
Following last year’s crash, Potter, who sustained an ankle injury and complained of chest pain, along with a 51-year-old woman who happened to be inside the restaurant at the time, were both taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention, according to police sources.
