Jerome Arnold has been charged with crashing a vehicle into a Panera Bread in East Farmingdale, Long Island as an unlicensed driver. (Credit: Mona Rivera/1010 WINS; Suffolk County Police)

EAST FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The man who crashed his SUV into a Panera Bread restaurant on Long Island Thursday faced a judge Friday.

Jerome Arnold, 69, plead not guilty after he was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident and aggravated unlicensed operator for driving with a suspended license.

Police said Arnold was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run accident through the parking lot of a Walmart in East Farmingdale when he struck a parked vehicle and then plowed into a Panera Bread restaurant.

Arnold’s grandson began crying when he saw his grandfather face the judge, WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall reported. He said his grandfather accidentally hit the gas instead of the break and slammed into the restaurant.

“He’s a great guy. It was a terrible accident, we really feel bad for everyone who got hurt in Panera,” his grandson said.